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Ultimaker Expands Its Commitment To Equip Young Women Pursuing Careers In STEM
March 08, 2021 | Categories: America Makes News, Member News
Global 3D Printing Leader Provides Its Technology to America Makes to Increase Female Representation in Engineering
Ultimaker, the global leader in professional 3D printing, today on International Women’s Day announced a donation of more than twenty of its 3D printers through its newly created partnership with America Makes, the country’s leading organization for additive manufacturing and 3D printing technology research, discovery, creation and innovation. The printers will be used in high schools across the country to grow awareness and entrepreneurship opportunities for 3D printing technology among young women through a new program called Additive Edge.
Additive Edge is a national outreach program that inspires high school students in the U.S. to explore additive manufacturing (3D printing) and entrepreneurship. The program will distribute the Ultimaker printers to secondary schools that successfully recruit female students into additive manufacturing courses. Each student who participates in the program will learn about the additive manufacturing industry, technologies and processes as well as career pathways. Students will also have access to learning opportunities along with industry credentials through America Makes.
As the world celebrates International Women’s Day 2021, only 13 percent of engineers in the additive manufacturing industry are women[1] – a scenario unlikely to change in the next decade without a coordinated effort from companies, educational institutions and civic organizations to support young women pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The accessible and reliable Ultimaker printers, assembled in Memphis, Tennessee, will enable young women across the United States to expand the potential for innovations with additive manufacturing as they learn, experiment and innovate with 3D printing.
We’re passionate about making professional 3D printers, software, materials, and services that are versatile and easy to use for everyone. But more importantly, we want to add sustainable value as a company and foster an environment of equity that enables the next generation of female engineers to leverage 3D printing and solve the world’s challenges with additive manufacturing. Together we can make it happen.
– Greg Elfering, President Ultimaker Americas
We are delighted that Ultimaker has provided its 3D printing technology – a critical resource we need to grow the representation of women in both technical fields and engineering – particularly additive manufacturing. We believe increasing the number of women pursuing these types of careers will not only benefit the additive industry but all of manufacturing.
– Josh Cramer, Education and Workforce director at America Makes
Ultimaker’s donation to America Makes is only the latest commitment the company has made to increase female representation in engineering careers and the additive manufacturing industry. In the past, the company donated more than a dozen 3D printers to support MakerGirl’s national #MakerGirlGoesMobile campaign that performs 3D printing sessions for young girls in rural, underserved communities.
About America Makes
America Makes is the nation’s leading public-private partnership for additive manufacturing (AM) technology and education. America Makes members from industry, academia, government, workforce and economic development organizations, work together to accelerate the adoption of AM and the nation’s global manufacturing competitiveness. Founded in 2012 as the Department of Defense’s national manufacturing innovation institute for AM and first of the Manufacturing USA network, America Makes is based in Youngstown, Ohio and managed by the not-for-profit National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM). Visit to learn more.
About Ultimaker
Since 2011, Ultimaker has built an open and easy-to-use solution of 3D printers, software and materials that enable professional designers and engineers to innovate every day. Today, Ultimaker is the market leader in desktop 3D printing. From offices in the Netherlands, New York, Boston, and Singapore – plus production facilities in Europa and the US – its global team of over 400 employees work together to accelerate the world’s transition to digital distribution and local manufacturing.