Advanced Manufacturing Center, University of Maine

The University of Maine is excited to announce the opening of The AMC BOT Loft, a cutting-edge robotics and automation training facility at our Advanced Manufacturing Center, University of Maine. This facility will support statewide advanced manufacturing workforce development, enhancing Maine's economy, national security, and global competitiveness. In collaboration with robotics partners Doosan Robotics, Universal Robots, ABB Robotics, and FANUC America Corporation, the B.O.T. Loft will offer factory-authorized training, hands-on curricula, and stackable credentials to upskill and reskill the workforce for high-demand careers. This state-of-the-art facility was made possible through $7 million in Community Project Funding secured by U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, with the support of the Maine Congressional Delegation, for UMaine to lead the creation of two Industry 4.0 Manufacturing Training Innovation Centers that will provide talent pipelines for defense, aerospace and other manufacturing employers in the state. Learn more about the B.O.T. Loft facility and its programs here: https://lnkd.in/eQp38MRM To stay informed about B.O.T. Loft training opportunities, please complete this form: https://lnkd.in/edp4aDn3

A huge thank you to the team at Hussey Seating for an incredible tour of their historic manufacturing campuses in North Berwick and Sanford this week. It was a fantastic opportunity for me, Andrew Weston, (AMC/MEP Project Manager), and Ean Canfield (AMC Mechanical Engineering Assistant) to see the complete manufacturing process firsthand. We were absolutely "nerding out" over the breadth of mature technology and advanced sheet metal processing equipment. It's truly impressive to witness the craftsmanship and innovation that goes into creating seating systems enjoyed by communities across the country. Special thanks to Ian O'Neil and Adam Campisi for being so generous with their time and knowledge, and to Dave Brzenchek (VP of Engineering) and Ted Huff (Project Manager) for taking the time to say hello along the way. We were disappointed to have missed Paul-Jacob Richmond, an AMC Alumni, but we hope to catch him on our next visit. It’s inspiring to see a Maine-based company with such a long and rich history of manufacturing excellence. #HusseySeating #MaineManufacturing #Engineering #AdvancedManufacturingCenter #MadeInMaine #NorthBerwick #Sanford #AMC #MEP #MaineMEP

What a perfect Maine summer evening! The AMC Blueberry Project Team had the opportunity to join the Maine Legislative Bus Tour for dinner on the UMaine mall. Eric Venturini and his team led the tour, which included stops at Merrill Blueberry Farms in Hancock and W.R. Allen's Wild Maine Blueberries in Orland. The goal of the tour is to inform and educate legislators on the importance of the wild blueberry crop to our economy, sustainability, communities, and identity. It was inspiring to see the wonderful work being done in the legislature to support this vital industry. The AMC Team was represented by Tyler Kirkmann (Food & AG Project Manager) and Andrew Weston, (Maine MEP Project Manager), along with their engineering assistants: Ean Canfield, Logan Hart, Roland Kitchen, Daniel St. John, Collin Loranger, and Ruth White. A highlight of the evening was the announcement of the winners of a friendly blueberry raking competition, where legislators were awarded trophies for their efforts! The team also had important conversations, with Daniel St. John discussing harvesters with Marie Emerson of Maine Blueberry Equipment Company—a conversation critical to the work we are doing. A fun fact: Marie has baked over 30,000 blueberry pies in her life! This event truly highlighted how we, as a state and as Mainers, can always do more to support such an important part of our identity. #MaineManufacturing #Technology #Farming #Umaine #Engineering #Blueberry #Innovation #AdvancedManufacturingCenter #MaineMEP #MEP #MadeInMaine

What a fantastic Day 2 on the Wild Blueberry Legislative Bus Tour, culminating at Brodis Blueberries, an incredible 9th-generation family farm. The day underscored the power of collaboration. After a great BBQ lunch (complete with delightful blueberry cobbler!), we heard from Lily Calderwood and Ron Howard about how a powerful partnership between the University of Maine's Cooperative Extension, the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine, Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Maine Technology Institute and the Advanced Manufacturing Center, University of Maine (AMC) has led to significant improvements on the farm. I was honored to join Ron and legislators, including Representatives Michael Arata and Richard Bradstreet, along with Mathew and Kerry McIntyre, in the processing room. I demonstrated how the AMC's applied research and industry engagement has helped quadruple throughput for the Brodis family. This was a perfect example of how our work directly translates into making Maine's industries more competitive. It's about more than just technology; it's about hands-on partnership. I made sure to show up early to lend a hand, troubleshooting harvesters with Ron's brother, Greg—because I believe in getting my hands dirty and supporting the people we work with. A huge thank you to the Brodis family for their incredible hospitality and for showing us all what a difference collaboration makes. #WildBlueberries #Agriculture #Farming #AgriTech #FamilyFarm #CooperativeExtension #AdvancedManufacturing

Final preparations are underway. The B.O.T. Loft is now home to Amatrol training systems for pneumatics, PLCs, AC/DC electrical, motor drives, motor control, relay control, wiring, and mechanical drives. A full smart manufacturing system will arrive soon, further expanding the capabilities of the facility. We are days away from opening a space designed to advance skills, strengthen industry partnerships, and inspire the next generation of the manufacturing workforce. A strong start to an even stronger future. #UMaine #AdvancedManufacturingCenter #MCEC #BOTLoft #CollaborativeRobotics #AutomationTraining #WorkforceDevelopment

What a perfect Maine summer evening! The AMC Blueberry Project Team had the opportunity to join the Maine Legislative Bus Tour for dinner on the UMaine mall. Eric Venturini and his team led the tour, which included stops at Merrill Blueberry Farms in Hancock and W.R. Allen's Wild Maine Blueberries in Orland. The goal of the tour is to inform and educate legislators on the importance of the wild blueberry crop to our economy, sustainability, communities, and identity. It was inspiring to see the wonderful work being done in the legislature to support this vital industry. The AMC Team was represented by Tyler Kirkmann (Food & AG Project Manager) and Andrew Weston, (Maine MEP Project Manager), along with their engineering assistants: Ean Canfield, Logan Hart, Roland Kitchen, Daniel St. John, Collin Loranger, and Ruth White. A highlight of the evening was the announcement of the winners of a friendly blueberry raking competition, where legislators were awarded trophies for their efforts! The team also had important conversations, with Daniel St. John discussing harvesters with Marie Emerson of Maine Blueberry Equipment Company—a conversation critical to the work we are doing. A fun fact: Marie has baked over 30,000 blueberry pies in her life! This event truly highlighted how we, as a state and as Mainers, can always do more to support such an important part of our identity. #MaineManufacturing #Technology #Farming #Umaine #Engineering #Blueberry #Innovation #AdvancedManufacturingCenter #MaineMEP #MEP #MadeInMaine

What does the future of manufacturing in Maine look like? It’s hands-on, high tech and already happening at the Advanced Manufacturing Center, University of Maine. In this episode of "The Maine Question," hear how AMC is helping Maine companies integrate robotics, automation, 3D printing and more, all to boost productivity, improve safety and stay competitive. Listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, Spotify, YouTube or “The Maine Question” website: https://lnkd.in/d_dZ2GcR What topics would you like to learn more about? What questions do you have for UMaine experts? Leave ideas in the comments or email them to mainequestion@maine.edu UMaine Engineering and Computing

The AMC B.O.T. Loft Summer Camp is officially underway. This week, high schoolers are diving into hands-on robotics training, working in small teams at UR3e robot stations inside one of Maine’s most advanced automation labs. From programming collaborative robots to earning industry credentials, they’re getting a first taste of college life and a head start on the future. #UMaine #AdvancedManufacturingCenter #MCEC #CollaborativeRobotics #STEMEducation #WorkforceDevelopment #BOTLoft

The AMC B.O.T. Loft is Maine’s new hub for hands-on robotics and advanced manufacturing training. The B.O.T. Loft will offer factory-authorized training, stackable micro-credentials, and hands-on programs for students, working professionals, and educators across the state and region. Whether you’re looking to upskill your team, gain career-ready experience, or explore new technologies, our programs are designed to prepare learners for the future of industry. More details about our industry training partnerships will be announced soon. Explore the complete list of all 16 micro-credentials at - https://lnkd.in/d6gvA_ad Follow us for updates on programs, training opportunities, and industry partnerships. #manufacturing #robotics #workforcedevelopment #umaine #advancedmanufacturingcenter #mcec

The robots are coming! But not to destroy like in the movies. At UMaine’s Advanced Manufacturing Center, new technologies like collaborative robots are helping companies across Maine grow, stay competitive and tackle workforce challenges. These technologies aren’t here to replace people; they're helping boost productivity and open doors for innovation on the factory floor. Brad Denholm shares more about how innovation and ingenuity are shaping the future of Maine manufacturing in the next episode of The Maine Question, available Tuesday, July 15. #UMaine #Maine #UMaineResearch