Celebrating Excellence: AMUG 2021 Awards Highlight Industry Pioneers and Innovations in Additive Manufacturing

While the AMUG 2021 conference concluded several weeks ago, its impact and the significant news emanating from the event continue to resonate throughout the additive manufacturing (AM) community. The Additive Manufacturing User Group, a leading global organization dedicated to advancing the understanding and application of additive manufacturing technologies, has proudly announced the esteemed recipients of its annual DINO, Technical, and the highly coveted President’s Awards. These accolades celebrate individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, technical expertise, and unwavering dedication to the AM industry and the AMUG organization itself. Unlike the annually presented DINO and Technical Awards, the President’s Award holds a unique prestige, having been bestowed upon only ten individuals throughout the organization’s remarkable 33-year history. This year’s honorees were recognized for their diverse and profound contributions, encompassing years of dedicated service, remarkable technical achievements, and pivotal leadership within the additive manufacturing landscape.

Distinguished INnovator Operator (DINO) Awards

The first group of distinguished individuals to be honored were the four recipients of this year’s DINO Awards. The DINO, an acronym for “Distinguished INnovator Operator,” is a highly respected annual award presented to members of the AMUG organization who exemplify outstanding expertise and service within the additive manufacturing field. These recipients are recognized for their extensive tenure in the AM industry, their years of dedicated service, their impactful contributions to the advancement of the technology, and their active and steadfast support of the user group community. The 2021 DINO awardees represent a diverse cross-section of the industry: Shane Collins from ASTM International, Giles Gaskell from Hexagon, Ana Neves from RAMCO, and Robin Van Bragt from Eagle Design and Technology Inc. Their collective experience and commitment underscore the values that the DINO Award seeks to champion. Carl Dekker, the President of AMUG, eloquently commented on the selection process, stating, “There were many candidates that had the tenure required for this coveted award. However, that is just one criterion. To be a DINO, one must also give back to the industry and support AMUG. These four individuals rose above all others because of their actions and achievements.” This emphasizes that merely possessing experience is not enough; true DINOs are those who actively contribute to the growth and collaborative spirit of the additive manufacturing ecosystem, fostering innovation and knowledge sharing for the benefit of all users.

Technical Awards: Showcasing AM Application and Finishing Excellence

The AMUG Technical Competition is a cornerstone event that highlights exceptional talent in additive manufacturing applications and advanced finishing techniques. This year, the competition proudly recognized two outstanding winners: Bill Braune of Dinsmore, Inc., and Vito Gervasi of Cadens LLC. Their winning entries exemplify the cutting-edge possibilities and artistic potential inherent in additive manufacturing today. Bill Braune clinched the top honor in the Advanced Finishing category for his incredibly detailed and intricate scene, aptly titled “Death: A Horseman’s Journey.” Braune leveraged the precision of Carbon Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) technology to print the remarkably fine details and subtle features that bring his creation to life. DLS, renowned for its ability to produce parts with exceptional resolution and surface finish, proved instrumental in capturing the delicate nuances of his design. Beyond the printing process, Braune masterfully applied a range of traditional painting and finishing techniques to enhance texture and truly encapsulate the dark, foreboding essence of his scene. He meticulously employed a palette of 30 colors, utilizing dry brushing, airbrushing, and washes to achieve complex gradients, rich shades, and striking highlights. To further enhance the tactile quality and visual depth, 3D printing polymer powders were expertly added to the surface, creating a gritty and realistic texture. This fusion of advanced additive manufacturing with traditional artistry demonstrates a powerful synergy, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in expressive 3D printed works.

Vito Gervasi, on the other hand, was recognized as the winner in the Advanced Concept category for his visionary project, the “BAAM Dam.” This impressive entry is a one-tenth scale replica of a 3D turbine system, a design that has reportedly been undergoing operational testing since July 2020. Gervasi’s choice of subject stems from his profound belief that additive manufacturing holds the key to enabling radical cost reduction and unlocking unprecedented opportunities for innovative power generation systems. He articulated his ambitious vision, stating, “What we propose to do in the next five years will reduce the US carbon footprint, create jobs, and help small towns to power their municipal facilities, small business or add power to the grid. AM has the potential to empower tens of thousands of communities with limited budgets to reduce utility power costs by activating dormant hydropower facilities.” This statement underscores the transformative potential of AM to address critical energy and environmental challenges. The larger components of his full-scale model, weighing an impressive 2,000 pounds and including large conveyance components and composite layup tools, were fabricated using Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM). BAAM is a large-format AM technology capable of rapidly producing sizable parts, making it ideal for the structural elements of such a turbine system. Complementing this, smaller, higher-resolution components requiring intricate details were produced using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), demonstrating a smart hybrid approach to additive manufacturing that leverages the strengths of different technologies for optimal results.

The Prestigious President’s Award

Among all the accolades presented by AMUG, the President’s Award stands as the most exceptionally rare and distinguished honor. Its scarcity underscores its profound significance, having been bestowed upon only a handful of individuals throughout the organization’s history. This year, the AMUG community proudly recognized two individuals for this unparalleled award: Terry Hoppe and Vince Anewenter. Both men received this prestigious recognition for their extraordinary, long-standing contributions to AMUG and the broader additive manufacturing industry. Terry Hoppe, who formerly served as Stratasys’ director of the North American applications team, was posthumously honored with the award. He was celebrated not only for his many years of dedicated service within the AM industry but, crucially, for his pivotal role in transforming AMUG. His vision and efforts were instrumental in transitioning AMUG from a supplier-specific users group into an inclusive, industry-wide forum that embraces all additive manufacturing users, regardless of their technology preference. Thanks to his unwavering support for the event and his strategic insights, the AMUG Conference evolved into a dynamic and essential platform for information exchange, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing across the entire sector. Stratasys, under his influence, became one of the conference’s foundational and most enduring sponsors, cementing a legacy that continues to benefit the AM community today.

The second recipient of this rare honor was Vince Anewenter, representing the Milwaukee School of Engineering. Vince has dedicated an impressive nine years to serving as AMUG’s Treasurer, a role in which his strategic financial leadership proved indispensable. It is largely due to his exceptional stewardship in this capacity that he was deservedly honored with the President’s Award. According to AMUG’s official press release, Anewenter’s diligent work enabled AMUG to achieve remarkable growth, seeing conference attendance increase tenfold while meticulously maintaining the organization’s robust financial health. His profound impact was particularly evident during the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He was specifically recognized for his instrumental role in guiding the conference through numerous setbacks, including the difficult decision to postpone the 2020 AMUG event and the complex process of moving the 2021 conference to a new location. Gary Rabinovitz, the AMUG Chairperson, underscored Anewenter’s critical contributions, noting, “It was Vince’s work before and during the pandemic that made that possible. Losing one conference and operating another at half capacity was a major challenge, financially. But with Vince’s diligence, we weathered the storm and emerged financially secure.” Anewenter’s steadfast commitment and financial acumen were truly vital in safeguarding AMUG’s future during a period of intense uncertainty, allowing the organization to continue its mission of fostering innovation and community within additive manufacturing. For more in-depth information about the AMUG conference and this year’s deserving winners, you can find further details HERE.

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*Cover Photo:  Vince Anewenter (right) receives the President’s Award from Carl Dekker. (Photo Credits: AMUG)