ANDERSON — Through a partnership of local government officials, educators and the business community the city of Anderson hopes to open a state-of-the-art facility to promote advanced manufacturing.
During the third annual Manufacturing Days event in the United States, officials released more details about the planned Purdue College of Technology and Flagship Enterprise Maker facility at the current Plant 18 site on Scatterfield Road. There are also plans for companies to share manufacturing space in the facility.
The Anderson Redevelopment Commission and the City of Anderson have started eminent domain proceedings to obtain the property from Hy-Tech Machining Systems, which purchased the property in 2008.
The intent is to have the facility completed in 2016, with work to start next year. There is no estimated cost for the project.
The Redevelopment Commission, Flagship Enterprise Center and Purdue University have provided $79,000 for the preliminary design work.
Architect Mike Montgomery said the plan is to demolish the entire Plant 18 office and manufacturing space to make room for the new 94,100-square-foot building.
He said the facility will include classroom space for the Purdue College of Technology and industrial manufacturing space. The manufacturing space will occupy 53 percent of the building.
The manufacturing space will be the location for a 3D printing area, and private work areas for developing companies.
Montgomery said the main corridor will be located on the west side of the building along Scatterfield Road with a glass-lined corridor, museum and innovation commons which will include a food and beverage area.
He said there is room for future industrial expansion to the east of the main building and another educational building to the south.
Architect Jesse Wilkerson said the design is intended to make the facility an iconic building for Anderson and the region.
Cory Sharp with the Purdue College of Technology said he is not aware of a similar project in the region or Indiana.
The benefits of the Plant 18 project is that it opens door for students in school and culminates in a career, he said. It will also allow the sharing of resources and lower the cost to business and of an education.
“We have a workforce development strategy that includes increased collaboration between education and businesses,” Sharp said.
He said the end result will be more companies headquartered in Madison County and the ability to attract international companies.
“This will be the core of the region’s future intellectual property development,” Sharp said.
Cindie Weatherford, president of TWI, said it will be a state-of-the-art facility and at the center of an industrial revolution in the region.
TWI uses 3D printing to manufacture parts for businesses, including the first 3D metal printer in Indiana.
Sharp said Anderson’s legacy is manufacturing.
“We want to see a renaissance of where it was 20 years ago and where it will be in 20 years,” he said. “We’re in a growth mode in Anderson. Our enrollment is up.”
The Purdue College of Technology’s mission is to address the needs of students and employers, Sharp said.
“We want to inspire, attract and retain 21st Century technologists in Madison County,” he said.”
Anderson Mayor Kevin Smith said the city is poised to see growth occur unlike any that’s happened in the past.
“This is putting all of the pieces together,” he said, “through our partnerships with the local educational system and Purdue.”
The intent is a direct connection between business and educators to train a resourceful labor force needed to attract new companies.