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A Partnership For Reviving Manufacturing Through Technology Transfer

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Conference

2005 Annual Conference

Location

Portland, Oregon

Publication Date

June 12, 2005

Start Date

June 12, 2005

End Date

June 15, 2005

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

Industrial Collaborations

Page Count

13

Page Numbers

10.70.1 - 10.70.13

DOI

10.18260/1-2--15569

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/15569

Download Count

419

Paper Authors

author page

Frank Miceli

author page

Chip Ferguson

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Aaron Ball

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Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract

Session 2549

A Partnership for Reviving Manufacturing Through Technology Transfer

Aaron K. Ball, Chip Ferguson, Frank Miceli Western Carolina University/ Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

Abstract

With continued job losses to overseas markets and increased awareness of energy costs, opportunities to revive American manufacturing may lie in producing improved energy efficient products. Prior research sponsored by the Department of Energy (DOE) has resulted in a demonstrated proof of concept for a new hybrid energy saving product. A call for proposals addressing the transfer of energy conservation and efficiency technologies into a workable prototype was issued by the Department of Energy. The ultimate goal is to stimulate regional economical development and promote job growth. Resulting from an awarded contract, a unique partnership was formed among Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Western Carolina University, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, and American Carolina Stamping Company to develop a marketable energy efficient hybrid water heating and dehumidifying product. This partnership was made possible by securing funding from the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy through a competitive request for proposals. Benefits through technology transfer from Oak Ridge National Laboratory to engineering technology faculty, students, and industry are highlighted. Product development, prototyping, fabrication, instrumentation, controls, and testing procedures were integrated into relevant engineering technology courses.

Background

Western Carolina University is committed to supporting economic development through engagement and partnerships. The university established a campus-wide mandate for engagement with regional business and industry and has provided support to departments active in this endeavor. Engagement activities focus on sustaining economic development and boosting entrepreneurial startups through innovative and creative projects that develop intellectual capital and technology transfer.1,2

The Engineering and Technology Department was approached December 1, 2003 by the Education and Research Consortium of the Western Carolinas to discuss the opportunity of working with a manufacturing company in western North Carolina to assist in managing the prototyping and field testing of a water-heating dehumidifier combination unit. The opportunity

“Proceedings of the 2005 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2005, American Society for Engineering Education”

Miceli, F., & Ferguson, C., & Ball, A. (2005, June), A Partnership For Reviving Manufacturing Through Technology Transfer Paper presented at 2005 Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--15569

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