University of Northern Iowa Metal Casting Center | Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber

The following information was released by Mediacom Business

New additive manufacturing and design facility utilizes bandwidth intensive applications to train and prepare manufacturers and students

Waterloo, IA – June 28, 2016 – Furthering its commitment to drive economic growth in the Cedar Valley corridor, Mediacom Business, a division of Mediacom Communications Corporation, today announced the installation of a high-capacity broadband connection at the new University of Northern Iowa (UNI) Metal Casting Center on the TechWorks Campus in downtown Waterloo.

Randy Pilkington, Director of Business and Community Services for UNI, said manufacturers and students alike will learn necessary design software skills at the UNI Metal Casting Center to develop products and prepare CAD documents in conjunction with Hawkeye Community College for 3D printing. The facility houses the largest sand mold 3D design printer in the country, and is installing three new 3D printers over the next several months using a variety of media.

“Our goal is make the facility at the UNI Metal Casting Center the go to place in Iowa, if not the Midwest, to expand additive manufacturing training of this kind. This is a huge initiative for Iowa. We feel confident that by partnering with Mediacom Business, we’ll receive the high-capacity broadband necessary to make this happen,” Mr. Pilkington said.

Dan Templin, Senior Vice President for Mediacom Business, said his company’s partnership with UNI exemplifies how critical it is to have a high-capacity broadband connection to power advanced technology platforms. “The design software needed to fuel expertise in sand mold printing used by companies like John Deere or Rockwell Collins requires high speed data. Without it, you simply can’t conduct the training needed. We’re especially glad to play such an important role in bringing business and education together via our proprietary fiber-optic network.”

Cary Darrah, TechWorks Vice President and General Manager, said Mediacom Business powered a TechWorks Campus StartUp event last November with 5 Gigabits of fiber connectivity. “Fast broadband was a necessity for the event – the first time StartUp Weekend was held on the Campus. Mediacom Business delivered the fastest connection to data that we’d used. Mediacom Business came through for TechWorks Campus and StartUp Weekend Cedar Valley participants. I believe that gave the Metal Casting Center a clear indication that Mediacom Business was a good solution at this location.”

About the University of Northern Iowa Metal Casting Center

The University of Northern Iowa Metal Casting Center was established in 1990 with a grant from the Iowa Lottery to serve foundries and foundry suppliers in Iowa. The UNI MCC has been a leader in foundry innovations and added 3D sand mold printing capabilities in 2014. Since then, the UNI MCC has worked with more than 100 small and medium enterprises across Iowa and the Midwest as well as with all branches of the US military.

About the TechWorks Campus

TechWorks Campus is a 30-acre advanced manufacturing, research & development, innovation, education, commercial, and manufacturing center located in downtown Waterloo, Iowa. The campus is comprised of 20 acres of development sites, and 300,000 square feet of flex space for innovation and development.

About Mediacom Communications

Mediacom Communications Corporation is the fifth largest cable operator in the U.S. serving about 1.3 million customers in smaller markets primarily in the Midwest and Southeast through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Mediacom Broadband LLC and Mediacom LLC. Mediacom offers a wide array of information, communications and entertainment services to households and businesses, including video, high-speed data, phone, and home security and automation. Through Mediacom Business, the company provides innovative broadband solutions to commercial and public sector customers of all sizes, and sells advertising and production services under the OnMedia brand. More information about Mediacom is available at www.mediacomcc.com.

Contact
Tom Larsen
Senior Vice President, Government & Public Relations
Phone: 845-443-2754 | Email: info@mediacomcc.com

Cedar Valley of Iowa, (May 19, 2014) Construction is underway at the Cedar Valley TechWorks Campus. Modifications to the existing Tech I structure started on April 14, 2014 as part of the $2M construction project. This project focuses on basic interior renovations and preparation for additional projects on the first two floors. The project will bring both spaces to a ready state for future tenant improvements. The current project includes insulation, windows, basic utilities, lighting, and HVAC. Tenants for the first and second floors have been identified, with negotiations ongoing. The project is scheduled for completion fall 2014. The Cedar Valley’s Cardinal Construction is the design-build general contractor. INVISION is their design partner.

“This project is significant in that it lays the groundwork for all future tenant spaces,” says Steve Dust, President/CEO of the Alliance & Chamber and President, TechWorks Campus. “It represents the diligent behind the scene efforts of the TechWorks board and staff, and is a visual sign of progress to the community.”

Cedar Valley TechWorks is a 30-acre advanced manufacturing and biotechnology research, development and education center, creating business and manufacturing cluster. The campus is located in downtown Waterloo, Iowa adjacent to the John Deere Westfield manufacturing operations. The campus includes two historic former Deere manufacturing buildings; Tech I and Tech II. The Tech I building includes: the University of Northern Iowa Metal Casting Center featuring the ExOne 3D printer – the largest in North America; industrial manufacturing space; tech shop or ‘tinkers’ space; incubator; and classrooms. Tech II is the starting point of the larger Green@TechWorks development project which includes: the John Deere Regional Training Center; an internationally recognized business class hotel; fine dining establishment; office and conference space. The John Deere Waterloo & Tractor Museum is also located on the campus and is scheduled to open in the summer of 2014. The campus includes parcels suitable for larger scale manufacturing facilities. TechWorks is the first technology park of its kind in the Iowa to combine world class business amenities within a Brownfield industrial redevelopment project. TechWorks has been designated as the site of the Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Center (IAMC) by the Iowa Innovation Corporation.

“The Cedar Valley has a rich history of value-added manufacturing and industrial innovation which makes TechWorks an ideal location for the statewide IAMC resource center,” says Cary Darrah, Vice President of Community Development and General Manager of Cedar Valley TechWorks Campus.

Cedar Valley TechWorks is a subsidiary of by the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber.

For more information on the Cedar Valley TechWorks, contact Cary Darrah, General Manager of Cedar Valley TechWorks Campus by calling (319)232-1156 or email cdarrah@cedarvalleyalliance.com, or Wes James, at wjames@cedarvalleyalliance.com.

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