Newswise — The University of Missouri-Rolla and the Boeing Co. will work together to develop new manufacturing methods for the aerospace industry and the U.S. Air Force through a $7.3 million federal contract.
The contract is the largest federal contract ever received by the university and will establish the Center for Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies on the campus.
Through the center, UMR researchers will work with Boeing and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio to develop new methods for manufacturing aircraft components as well as to promote new training and education programs for the aerospace industry.
The new center will be housed in UMR's mechanical and aerospace engineering department and will facilitate research and development in advanced simulation, high-speed machining, abrasive slurry cutting, rapid prototyping, laser materials processing, friction stir processing, non-chrome coating, non-destructive evaluation, composites manufacturing and electronic materials processing. The project will involve 29 faculty from various disciplines and roughly 50 graduate students, says Dr. Ming Leu, the Keith and Pat Bailey Missouri Distinguished Professor in Integrated Product Development. Leu will direct the new center.
RSS