PFLUGERVILLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP. LAUNCHES NEW WEBINAR SERIES, “THE 3D CITY STRIKES BACK”

The Pflugerville Community Development Corporation (PCDC) announced today the launch of “The 3D City Strikes Back,” a three-part webinar series June 10, 17 and 24 featuring the City of Pflugerville’s additive manufacturing companies and showcasing how the 3D innovators retooled and repositioned business platforms in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to produce medical supplies and personal protective equipment, according to Amy Madison, PCDC Executive Director.

“When the pandemic started making its impact in the US, these Pflugerville companies were driven by a sense of community and they struck back, armed with technology and a nimble ability to pivot from design to product,” said Madison. “This ‘star-wars’ story is important to share with our local community, but also has relevance for a wider audience beyond Texas as the PPE and medical supplies help protect many people nationwide.”

In 2019, Pflugerville was dubbed “The 3D City” in a story published by Site Selection Magazine due to the high concentration of 3D manufacturers recruited by the city corporation during the previous five years. EOS of North America and Cumberland Additives, Inc. had already established headquarters in Pflugerville and were featured in the article. Later that same year, the city recruited Essentium, Inc. to add to this industry cluster. Each company is now well-established and in various stages of expanding polymer and metal additive manufacturing processes nationally and internationally, according to Madison.

“These companies relied on our location, area workforce, and proximity to universities that are well-established in 3D technology when locating their headquarters in Pflugerville,” Madison said. “The City of Pflugerville is simply a good fit, and as the webinar will demonstrate, this fast-growth segment of manufacturing is a compliment to other types of manufacturers as well.”

The webinar kicks off June 10 at 11 am with Episode I: “How the 3D City Prepared for Battle” featuring guest speakers Blake Teipel, Essentium, Inc., Russell Aldridge, SISU, and Gerald Hutchinson, Medway Plastics, Inc. to discuss how the companies quickly organized and shared technology and resources. Episode II: “Winning the COVID Wars”, also at 11 am, features Donnie Vanelli, EOS of North America, Michael Celardo, Cumberland Additive, Inc., and includes special guest appearances from Mary Hadley, MakerGirl, a 3D academy for girls 7-10, and Daniel Berra, Pflugerville Library that offer free training programs for employees and residents of all ages. The final Episode III: “The Rise of Workforce” begins at 9 am on June 24 and highlights the private and public response to workforce needs during the pandemic with guest speakers Ed Latson, Austin Regional Manufacturing Association, Laura Marmolejo, Austin Community College, and Tamara Atkinson, Workforce Solutions Capital Area Board.

Registration is free and open to the public and may be accessed at the PCDC website: https://www.pfdevelopment.com/news/webinars/?cat=webinars

Dates and company presentations for “The 3D City Strikes Back”:

Wednesday, Jun 10, 11 am - Episode I: How the 3D City Prepared for Battle

Essentium, SISU, and Medway Plastics

Wednesday, June 17, 11 am - Episode II: Winning the COVID Wars

EOS North America, Cumberland Additive, Inc., MakerGirl, Pflugerville Library

Wednesday, June 24, 9 am - Episode III- The Rise of Workforce

Texas Workforce Commission, Workforce Solutions Capital Area Board, Austin Community College, and Austin Regional Manufacturing Association