The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) announced its keynote speakers for the 2022 AMUG Conference, which will be held in Chicago, Illinois, from April 3 – 7, 2022. Kevin Czinger, founder, lead inventor, and CEO of Divergent 3D and Czinger Vehicles, and Ellen Lee, technical leader additive manufacturing research at Ford Motor Company, will take the stage to discuss innovations and change in the automotive sector.

Jordan Weston, AMUG director, education & conference, said, “It will be interesting to hear Kevin’s and Ellen’s ‘similar but different’ perspectives on the present and future of manufacturing in the automotive industry. On one hand, we will have the perspective of a young company seeking to disrupt. On the other hand, we will hear from a large, established company seeking to adapt and lead.”

“Ellen represents a 118-year-old company that changed the game over a century ago yet continues to innovate in response to shifting demands. Kevin represents a company that will make its mark by changing the process, altering vehicle architectures, and localizing adaptive, sustainable manufacturing,” Jordan continued.

Kevin will take the stage on Tuesday, April 5, to share how he founded Divergent 3D in 2013 to rethink how vehicles are produced at scale, using a clean slate, system-level approach to digital manufacturing. This approach has already been successfully demonstrated by Divergent’s captive product company, Czinger Vehicles, and Divergent 3D is partnering with several major, unnamed automotive OEMs to break the barriers of serial production using additive manufacturing at scale.

At the core of Divergent 3D’s solution and a central point for the keynote presentation is DAPS™ (Divergent Adaptive Production System). DAPS is a system-level solution that delivers multi-objective, optimized designs; purpose-designed materials; tool-less additive manufacturing, and automated, fixture-less assembly. Kevin founded Divergent 3D in 2013 and serves as its CEO. He is also a member of SLM Solutions Group’s supervisory board.

On Thursday, April 7, Ellen will present “Automotive Manufacturing to Additive Manufacturing: From History to the Future of Mobility.” She will share how key events and needs in the history of mobility have influenced the development and advancement of the modern manufacturing industry, such as the moving assembly line, development of new materials, and creation of new technologies. Building on that insight, she will discuss the continued drive for innovation in new aspects, such as mass customization, decentralized supply chains, and digital manufacturing—and additive manufacturing will play a critical role in meeting those needs.

Ellen’s entire professional career, spanning 23 years, has been at Ford Motor Company. For the past six years, she has served in her current role as technical leader for additive manufacturing research. In that capacity, she has become well-known and well respected in the additive manufacturing industry.

Rounding out the featured stage presentations are Insights and Highlights on Monday, April 4, and the Innovators Showcase on Wednesday, April 6. The keynotes and featured presentations will kickstart each day of the conference and set the tone for 150 presentations, panel discussions, workshops, and hands-on training sessions.

Designed for novice and experienced additive manufacturing users, AMUG Conference agenda topics range from technology basics to advanced applications to business considerations. Conference details and registration are available at www.amug.com.