Stratasys will officially open its newNorth American Tooling Center of Excellence (NASTC) in Flint, Michigan, in collaboration with Automation Intelligence, LLC. The NASTC is designed to transform how automakers and manufacturers build the tools that keep production lines moving, showcasing advanced additive manufacturing technologies like the Stratasys F3300®? and F900®?
printers. Michigan sits at the heart of American manufacturing, and Stratasys is investing in Flint as the launchpad for the future of digital tooling and skilled labor that will bolster the state's role as the engine of industrial innovation. The NASTC serves as a hub for automakers, suppliers, and manufacturers to develop knowledge and practices that leverage additive manufacturing to deliver faster, more cost-effective, and more innovative production solutions that overcome many of today's manufacturing challenges.
At the core of a manufacturing economy is a strong workforce -- one that is driven forward through job creation, worker protections, and skills development. Today, more challenges persist, as the incoming labor has changed. More emphasis is being placed on filling roles and retention -- making manufacturing a career people want.
The automotive industry has struggled to attract and retain talent, in part because many no longer see the factory floor as a place of innovation or opportunity. Additive manufacturing is helping change that. It's reigniting interest, sparking creativity, and redefining what a career in manufacturing can look like.
The NASTC will serve as a proving ground -- showing Michigan's workforce that now is the time to return to the design and production floor, not just for a job, but for a future.
