Engineers from America Makes and JuggerBot 3D Featured in NIST Video Rethinking Manufacturing

America Makes announces that Gold-level member JuggerBot 3D, a Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI) portfolio company, hosted a special screening of the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) video, Rethinking Manufacturing, that aired on Monday, August 19 at 4:30 p.m. at YBI’s "Tech Block Building Five."

The Rethinking Manufacturing video features two Youngstown natives and promising engineers, America Makes Project Engineer Ashley Totin and JuggerBot 3D co-founder and president Zac Divencenzo, and their journey to find their career paths in the wake of the economic decline of their hometown. Once a thriving steel town, the collapse of the industry in the 1970s hit Youngstown particularly hard. During the following decades, Youngstown experienced harsh economic times due to significant job losses that caused its population to leave in droves.

Today, Youngstown would be described as a comeback city due largely to a dramatic shift in the role of American manufacturing. Once seen as the world’s icon of industrialization and then as a symbol of decline, American manufacturing once again is changing. Rethinking Manufacturing is the story of two young individuals who are part of that revolution. With support from America Makes, Youngstown State University (YSU) and YBI, these entrepreneurs and their peers are rethinking manufacturing and career choices, and rethinking the idea of how we build and revitalize communities like Youngstown.

“The NIST Rethinking Manufacturing video is an exceptional and inspiring work of storytelling,” says America Makes Executive Director John Wilczynski. “It depicts the challenge, transformation, and redemption of a manufacturing city that was part of America’s industrial backbone and the journey of two outstanding young people willing to pursue careers in manufacturing, specifically additive manufacturing, and then stay and make a difference in their hometown. This is an important video that should be seen by all in the Youngstown community."

“Moreover, all of us at America Makes are incredibly proud of both Ashley and Zac. They are role models to be emulated within the Youngstown community and we commend them both for their respective contributions to YSU, America Makes and YBI. Most of all, we wish them continued success.”

The Rethinking Manufacturing video can also be viewed on the NIST website.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.