The Additive Manufacturing production campus at Pittsburgh International Airport will drive reduced production costs, boost regional productivity and innovation, and reduce energy consumption

Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Barnes Group Advisors (TBGA), the largest independent advanced manufacturing engineering consultancy, has released an impact study revealing the overall economic benefits of an Additive Manufacturing production campus for the Pittsburgh International Airport.

The planned development, revealed as Neighborhood 91, will sit on 195 acres directly attached to Pittsburgh International Airport. With strategic input from TBGA, the campus has been designed to house a complete end-to-end Additive Manufacturing (AM) ecosystem; it features all the necessary components that make up the AM/3D printing supply chain.

The TBGA report substantiated that a cluster concept like Neighborhood 91 can act as a catalyst for AM industrialization and innovation with the creation of a cost-efficient ecosystem. Multiple numerical data models with relevant industry data were complemented by economic theory to analyze the impact. Five key impact areas were identified:
· Reduction in Production Costs – 25% for Parts and 30% for Powder

· Simplified Supply Chain with 80% Reduction in Manufacturing Lead Time and 80+% Reduction in Transportation Cost and Miles for Powder to Part Production

· Workforce Development and R&D Boost Productivity and Innovation

· Agglomeration Economies and Labor Market Pooling for Reductions in Learning Curves and Under-utilized Equipment

· Reduced Energy Consumption and Emissions

Observing the many cost impacts of a concentrated AM production campus, TBGA ADDvisor® Services Leader and report co-author, Laura Ely, commented, “the current AM production supply chain is fragmented. This study validates that Neighborhood 91’s centralized campus will significantly reduce cost and the need to manage parts across a dispersed supply chain.”

TBGA Founder and Managing Director, John Barnes, noted, “a cluster does two key things: It enables process owners to focus on developing and optimizing their core process, and it creates a skilled regional labor pool.” It is also a win for the region, he added, “because innovative companies locate near other innovative companies; this is an area where Pittsburgh, specifically, has been successful through the years.”

The full economic impact report is available for review on the Neighborhood 91 website at: http://www.neighborhood91.com