3D Printing’s Next Gig: Job Producer

A new partnership showcases 3D printing’s potential to expand industry and create jobs in regions that are not typically associated with technology-oriented opportunities.

Advanced Development of Additive Manufacturing Inc. (A.D.A.M), a venture-backed start-up specializing in on-site 3D printing of biomaterials, is collaborating with the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center, the West Virginia Department of Economic Development, Necessity Ventures, and the Civil-Military Innovation Institute (CM12) on a cross-functional, private and public sector partnership to drive biomedical manufacturing and create new economic opportunities in the state of West Virginia. The Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center specializes in providing equipment use and training to assist local entrepreneurs while the non-profit CM12 focuses on innovating solutions to support the military.

The agreement marks a significant milestone in A.D.A.M.’s  journey to revolutionize additive manufacturing, including market expansion, this time, in West Virginia, said Denys Gurak, CEO and founder. The plan is to stand up several impactful initiatives, including a materials processing facility in Huntington, WV, a point-of-care facility, and a series of training and workforce development programs that could create up to 50 jobs.

“Our team is thrilled to develop and grow local partnerships to drive innovation in biomedical technology,” Gurak said. “Our West Virginia investment is an important step forward in advancing additive manufacturing as we will mainly focus on producing biomaterials through 3D printing for biomedical technology applications.”

A.D.A.M. is a Ukrainian-American start-up that provides on-demand 3D bioprinting of custom surgical implants. The company's end-to-end platform supports medical professionals throughout the entire process of creating custom implants, starting with procurement and processing of raw materials all the way through receiving a sterilized personalized device ready for implantation. Central to the A.D.A.M. approach is a proprietary Quality Management System that manages the customized biomaterial formulas along with software that allows any point-of-care facility to manufacture their own custom implants on demand.

West Virginia's manufacturing history and innovation ecosystem, combined with Marshall University's expertise in advanced manufacturing, set the stage for this innovative partnership with A.D.A.M. The collaboration aims to optimize the supply chain for 3D-printed biomaterials, starting with bone implants for orthopedic surgeries, the officials said. The collective group is now working on site selection for material processing facilities and implementation of point-of-care manufacturing in West Virginia for military, rural, and commercial applications.

Watch this video to see how the A.D.A.M. platform supports the design and production of custom implants.