The Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) is a world-leading, interdisciplinary center for research, education, and economic development encompassing material sciences, advanced manufacturing, and engineering of composites and structures. Housed in a 100,000ft2 ISO-17025 accredited facility, the ASCC has been recognized nationally and internationally for cutting-edge research programs leading and impacting new industries including offshore wind and marine energy, civil infrastructure, bio-based large-scale 3D printing, soldier protection systems, and innovative defense-related applications.
Our Strategic Plan, called GEM, focuses the Center’s work on Green Energy and Materials development. Through GEM, the Center is at the forefront of major new sustainability industries in the U.S., including these recent successful initiatives:
The Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) is a world-leading, interdisciplinary center for research, education, and economic development encompassing material sciences, advanced manufacturing, and engineering of composites and structures. Housed in a 100,000ft2 ISO-17025 accredited facility, the ASCC has been recognized nationally and internationally for cutting-edge research programs leading and impacting new industries including offshore wind and marine energy, civil infrastructure, bio-based large-scale 3D printing, soldier protection systems, and innovative defense-related applications.
The ASCC is the largest university-based research Center in Maine, and one of the fastest-growing research laboratories in the world, with research revenue growth of 5X in the past 5 years. The facility has expanded to include 13 integrated laboratories with more than 410+ full and part-time personnel, including faculty, staff, and students. Since its founding in 1996 with support from the National Science Foundation, the Center has financially sponsored more than 2,600 students, received 70 patents, received over 26,000 visitors, created 14 spinoff companies through licensing of patents or trade secrets, and received more than 40 national and global awards for research excellence.
The ASCC’s 2020 Strategic Plan, called GEM, focuses the Center’s work on Green Energy and Materials development. Through GEM, the Center is at the forefront of major new sustainability industries in the U.S., including these recent successful initiatives:
Floating offshore wind technology developed at the ASCC led to a $100 million investment by global energy heavyweights Diamond Offshore Wind and RWE Renewables, and a $50 million investment from the US DOE, to launch the first full-scale floating offshore wind project off the Maine coast. Read more about this accomplishment
Awarded three Guinness World Records for the world’s largest prototype polymer 3D printer, largest solid 3D-printed object, and largest 3D-printed boat. The awards came after ASCC printed 3Dirigo, a 25ft marine patrol vessel weighing 5,000lbs in under 3 days. Read more about this accomplishment
First large-scale bio-based additive manufacturing program in the US, via a $20M additive manufacturing program with Oak Ridge National Lab to work with the forest products industry to produce new bio-based materials that will be conducive to 3D printing large-scale products such as boat hull molds, shelters, building components, tooling for composites and wind blades. Read more about this accomplishment
Selected to lead the $14.2 million Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center with 5 other universities across New England to develop more sustainable, transformative, and economical solutions to address our nation’s infrastructure challenges. Read more about this accomplishment
Advanced Structures & Composites Center