Company Profile
Advanced Structures and Composites Center UMaine
Company Overview
The Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) is a world-leading, interdisciplinary center for research, education, and economic development encompassing material sciences, advanced manufacturing and engineering of composites and structures. Housed in a 100,000ft2 ISO-17025 accredited facility, the ASCC has been recognized nationally and internationally for cutting edge research programs leading and impacting new industries including offshore wind and marine energy, civil infrastructure, bio-based large-scale 3D printing, soldier protection systems and innovative defense-related applications. The ASCC is the largest university-based research Center in Maine, and one of the fastest growing research laboratories in the world, with research revenue growth of 5X in the past 5 years. Facility has expanded to include 13 integrated laboratories with more than 260 full and part time personnel, including faculty, staff and students. Since its founding in 1996 with support from the National Science Foundation, the Center has financially sponsored more than 2,600 students, received 70 patents, received over 26,000 visitors, created 14 spinoff companies through licensing of patents or trade secrets, and received more than 40 national and global awards for research excellence.
The ASCC’s 2020 Strategic Plan, called GEM, focuses the Center’s work on Green Energy and Materials development. Through GEM, the Center is at the forefront of major new sustainability industries in the U.S., including these recent successful initiatives:
Company History
The UMaine Composites Center was founded in 1996 with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) through the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. Dr. Habib Dagher and Dr. Stephen Shaler, with assistance from Dr. Barry Goodell, Dr. Eric Landis, and Jake Ward, authored a grant titled, “Composite Reinforced Wood Hybrids for Civil Infrastructure Systems.” This grant supported the creation of the Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center (AEWC), and included the construction of a 30,000 sq. ft. facility, major equipment purchases, and new faculty hires.
The grant proposal received top marks from all nine NSF reviewers, which ultimately resulted in the $3.3 million award. Dagher, Shaler, and UMaine’s then System Chancellor Terry MacTaggart turned to the Eastern Maine Development Corporation (EMDC) and Sanford “Sandy” Blitz, who was running the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) program at EMDC. Blitz and the UMaine team wrote a successful $2.2 million proposal to the EDA.
The UMaine team then approached Governor Angus King and successfully raised $250,000 for an EDA-required local match. With NSF, EDA, and state match funds in hand, construction on laboratory’s first section began, and the Center officially opened in 1999. Equipment, however, was purchased in following years with grants through federal and state agencies, including the NSF, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the US Navy, the Maine Department of Transportation, and others.
The original construction was 30,000 sq. ft., and opened officially in 1999.
The original construction was 30,000 sq. ft., and opened officially in 1999.
Although the Center was initially dedicated to product development and wood composites research, it quickly expanded its capabilities into four other research areas: defense and aerospace; civil infrastructure; ocean energy; and nanocomposites. This diversification of research brought a new group of prospective funding agencies, faculty, and students from a variety of academic backgrounds.
The Center experienced rapid growth over the next two decades as a result of this widening research, reaching an average of 50 faculty and staff members, as well as an average of $5-8 million in research funding being brought to UMaine every year. This period also included several expansions of laboratory and office space.
2011 Expansion, Offshore Wind Laboratory
In 2011, the Center officially opened its Offshore Wind Laboratory, adding structural testing of blades, towers, and foundation components up to 230 feet in length to its list of capabilities. This expansion was the first building on campus to receive LEED Gold certification.
2012 Name Change, AEWC to Advanced Structures and Composites Center
Given the continuous growth and widening range of research, it became clear that AEWC no longer encompassed the full extent of research and development activities at the Center. In 2012, at the request of the Center’s director and faculty, the University of Maine Board of Trustees approved a name change, formally renaming the AEWC to the Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC).
2015 Expansion, Alfond W2 Ocean Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Labs
In 2015, the Center received its largest philanthropic gift to date from the Harold Alfond Foundation to name the $13.8 million Alfond W2 Ocean Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Labs. The Foundation provided $3.9 million to match the $9.98 million raised by the NSF, EDA, a State of Maine bond, and other sources. The expansion of the Alfond labs brought the total size of the UMaine Composites Center to 100,000 square feet.
Notable Accomplishments / Recognition
• Floating offshore wind technology developed at the ASCC led to a $100 million investment by global energy heavyweights Diamond Offshore Wind and RWE Renewables, and $50 million investment from the US DOE, to launch the first full-scale floating offshore wind project off the Maine coast.
• Awarded three Guinness World Records for the world’s largest prototype polymer 3D printer, largest solid 3D-printed object, and largest 3D-printed boat. The awards came after ASCC printed 3Dirigo, a 25ft marine patrol vessel weighing 5,000lbs in under 3 days.
• First large-scale bio-based additive manufacturing program in the US, via a $20M additive manufacturing program with Oak Ridge National Lab to work with the forest products industry to produce new bio-based materials that will be conducive to 3D printing large-scale products such as boat hull molds, shelters, building components, tooling for composites and wind blades.
• Selected to lead the $14.2 million Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center with 5 other universities across New England to develop more sustainable, transformative and economical solutions to address our nation’s infrastructure challenges.
Benefits
Tuition Benefits - Employee and Dependent