Performance Update July - September 2025

HAMR (Hub for Advanced Manufacturing Research)

Crossland Construction Company project updates. September 2025 

• Interior lighting nearly complete and wired into temporary power.  Preparing switch gear and electrical panels for permanent power once transformers and new Evergy switch gear are set.
• Machine duct drops have been installed • Roof gas lines are continuing to progress.
• Overhead and interior doors installed • Interior priming and painting nearly complete
• Begun laying tile in bathrooms
• Process water skid was received. Components are set and process piping going to the water skid are close to complete.
• TPO has been placed on the outside patio
• Glass installation is nearing completion
• HVAC ducts tied in and only finish work remains  

 

Additive Manufacturing Adoption

• Intermediate Additive Manufacturing (AM) Certificate Program class was held on September 9-11 with nine persons attending.
• The Additives Manufacturing instructoris developing a list of companies nationally who show interest in emerging materials. Staff will conduct outreach to these companies to encourage enrollment of their staff in the Intro/Intermediate/Expert classes and expand the Policy Makers class across the state.
• Supplier audits are complete but are still available as opportunities arise.
• Engagement with industry and regulatory authorities including the Department of Defense, GE Additive, and Boeing continues in support of a part production qualification whitepaper to assist industry with the development of qualified factories. This white paper was completed  and company outreach in all areas is still a focus through out Additive Manufacturing.
• Continued the testing of the Alloy718 test articles. Created a draft spec that contains the specification of the material data that has come back. Awaiting fatigue and photomics to complete to finalize specification.

Smart Manufacturing/Future Factory

• AMP RigiMill CNC assembly is now complete. Hartwig engineer facilitated a week-long class for AMP staff.
• Plans underway to host a Showcase VIP Open House in October inviting area industry leaders, economic development, lenders, and vendors. The  RigiMill commissioning will be the headliner along with live demonstrations from AMP team members and vendors.
• RigiMill supplies –Mastercam software and a RotoClear Vision System were purchased.
• AMP training for this quarter includes one session of GD&T Concepts and Application and ongoing training for six student interns working part-time at AMP.
• WSU Tech  training and summer camps – hosted four-weeks of 3rd-8th grades summer STEM camps in July. Two weeks included Girls Rock Science, and then they debuted two weeks of  Grits & Gears summer camps for boys. There were 364 children in attendance all total. In August WSU hosed its pilot CMMC class with 16 students completing the course. They then hosted an evening class for Textron, showcasing the Wichita Aviation Training Ecosystem for twelve  Kansas state senators and representatives.
• WSU Tech broke ground on a $45M expansion of the National Center for Aviation Training in August 2025.  The 85,500 square feet facility will be the permanent home for the Smart Innovation Factory and enable them to expand course offerings. 

Governance and Evaluation

• Strategic Initiatives team members continue to engage in BBR Communities of Practice activities  regularly attending virtual meetings and two staff in attendance at the Detroit in-person convening.
• Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce leaders attended the September 2025 Kansas Congressional Fly In, in Washington DC. Topics of interest included workforce, talent, and immigration as all necessary components to meet our area workforce needs.
• Chamber’s I&D Advisory Committee convened on August 14, 2025, discussion on WBJ’s recent ICT Discussion Session and planning for upcoming  Sunrise Scrambler.
• Create Campaign reports 377 people attended events/classes they sponsored during this quarter. Their SPARK’s program for early entrepreneurs kicked off on August 20th with 20 people accepted into the cohort.
• Coalition’s WSU economist continues to network with other regional economic, faith-based, business, workforce, and governmental leaders. Discussion focuses on a  regional centralized dashboard incorporating elements that impact workforce needs: health & wealth, housing, childcare, food desserts, and transportation.