Apr 28, 2016 | By Benedict

Rick Pollack, founder and CEO of 3D printer manufacturer MakerGear, has met with US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss additive manufacturing. Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor organized the meeting at Hannover Messe, a trade fair for industrial technology.

Photo: Christian Charisius

Hannover Messe, one of the world’s largest technology fairs, takes place each year in Hannover, Germany, and its 2016 edition is being seen by some as a milestone in German-US relations.  Every year, a leading industrialized nation is selected as the Partner Country of Hannover Messe. In 2016, for the first time in its history, the fair is welcoming the United States—whose delegation consists of more than 390 businesses and organizations—as its chosen Partner Country.

One company taking full advantage of the US being placed center stage at Hannover Messe is Ohio-based 3D printer manufacturer MakerGear, which is demonstrating, amongst other products, its latest open-source desktop 3D printer: the M2. To demonstrate the power of the M2, the company is displaying a number of 3D printed items made with the flagship machine, such as product packaging, dental models, prosthetic limbs made by high school students, and a heart printed for pediatric research.

MakerGear M2 3D printer

Despite the exciting display of 3D printing technology and 3D printed items on display at the MakerGear stand, it was perhaps not the hardware itself that has had so many visitors talking about the company today. The M2 certainly looks impressive, but a meeting between MakerGear CEO Rick Pollack, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and US President Barack Obama drew a great deal more attention to the 3D printing company than anything at its stall did.

President Barack Obama, the first President of the United States to attend Hannover Messe, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony about transatlantic trade, the importance of the European Union, and areas of technology on which the US is currently focused, including 3D printing, which Obama has previously described as a “revolutionary” tool. Obama addressed the top priorities the United States government has in the technology sector, including "next-generation manufacturing," 3D printing and electric vehicles.

Given this nod to additive manufacturing, it seemed fitting that the leader of the free world was invited to talk with an important figure in the American 3D printing scene. "To be able to share our story with President Obama and Chancellor Merkel is such a rare opportunity,” Pollack commented. “President Obama has taken additive manufacturing seriously, and he sees the positive effect it is having on so many different industries.”

Lt. Governor Mary Taylor, who used some serious political clout to make the three-way meeting happen, expressed her pride at MakerGear’s success. "MakerGear is leading the industry in additive manufacturing, and I'm glad they are able to showcase their successes here in Ohio to the rest of the world,” she said.

President Obama is no stranger to 3D printing, having been involved with the opening of several manufacturing hubs and witnessed the power of 3D printed prosthetic devices at the 2015 White House Science Fair.

 

 

Posted in 3D Printer Company

 

 

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