Jacksonville State University’s Center for Manufacturing Support (CMS) has announced a new partnership with EOS North America to enhance education, training, and applied research in additive manufacturing. The collaboration includes the addition of a second EOS M290 metal 3D printer, bringing the university’s total investment in additive manufacturing to over $3 million. This move solidifies CMS’s status as one of the Southeast’s most comprehensive university-based additive labs.
The CMS is distinct from many university labs that focus on experimental technologies, as it aims to solve real-world engineering problems with industry-ready solutions. “Unlike many university labs that focus on experimental technologies years from mainstream industry adoption, our mission at CMS is to deliver solutions manufacturers can use right now,” said Matt Rosser, director of the Center for Manufacturing Support at Jacksonville State. The partnership with EOS integrates the company’s Ignite Program training modules into CMS’s curriculum and workforce programs, strengthening its applied approach.
Through the EOS Ignite Program, students and industry partners at Jacksonville State gain access to structured, industry-recognized training on additive manufacturing fundamentals, design for AM, system operation, and process science. This, combined with CMS’s comprehensive capabilities from 3D scanning to post-processing, positions Jacksonville State as a regional hub for workforce development and advanced manufacturing support.
“The Ignite Program was built to bridge the gap between industrial needs and education,” said Fabian Alefeld, global director of business development and Additive Minds Academy at EOS. “By collaborating with innovative institutions like Jacksonville State, we’re empowering the next generation of engineers with the skills and confidence to contribute meaningfully to the future of additive manufacturing.”
With over 80 additive and scanning systems, CMS is recognized nationally not only for the scale of its lab but also for its mission to ensure advanced technologies are accessible and impactful for U.S. manufacturers.