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A boost for workforce development

Virginia Tech will put its research and regional partnerships to work helping manufacturers compete, preparing students for careers, and strengthening Virginia’s economy.

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A man holds a pieces of metal and explains how it was made to two other men on either side of him. — A College of Engineering student discusses advanced manufacturing with representatives of regional companies during a tour of the university's DREAMS Lab at the 2025 AM² conference. Photo by Diane Deffenbaugh for Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech made: the center for advanced manufacturing present and future.

We have access to nearly every 3D printing modality at Virginia Tech, enabling fabrication of metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites. Leveraging our industrial-scale, research-ready additive manufacturing systems and pioneering work in materials and process development, we empower manufacturing leaders to redefine what’s possible.

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Video: Printing the impossible

Chris Williams leads Virginia Tech’s DREAMS Lab, where he and his team explore the limits of additive manufacturing, more commonly known as 3D printing. His work focuses on developing new materials, advanced robotics, and innovative printing processes that make it possible to create stronger, more capable products. From aerospace and transportation to healthcare and consumer goods, his research is helping expand what can be manufactured and how it can be made.