Nearly 500 people celebrated the opening of the Missouri Protoplex on April 15 at the new facility, located at 1700 White Columns Drive in Rolla. The 117,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility is the first building in Missouri S&T’s Manufacturing Technology and Innovation Campus.

“On behalf of the Board of Curators, I’m excited today to join in the dedication of the Missouri Protoplex, one of the most comprehensive university-based manufacturing facilities in the nation,” said Todd Graves, chair of the University of Missouri Board of Curators. “With the Protoplex, Missouri S&T is taking the lead to ensure our state’s manufacturing innovators and industry partners have access to the latest research technology and equipment, along with enhanced space to design and test their new products and processes.”

The facility includes 40,000 square feet of high-bay manufacturing space and more than 60 industrial-scale pieces of equipment and manufacturing systems. S&T has already secured more than $22 million to support collaborations with its industry and research partners.

“Our previous governor, Mike Parson, our current governor, Mike Kehoe, and elected leaders have made it a strategic point to invest in higher education, infrastructure and workforce development, and this is another testament to that investment that’s happening here,” said Dr. Mun Choi, president of the University of Missouri.

Gov. Kehoe was unable to attend but shared his congratulations in a video message played during the ceremony.

“When we broke ground for the Missouri Protoplex three years ago, I spoke about the need for such a facility to support our engineering education and technological workforce needs,” said Dr. Mo Dehghani, chancellor of Missouri S&T. “Now, more than ever, this facility is needed to strengthen U.S. manufacturing, drive economic development and build the talent pipeline for tomorrow’s workforce. The Missouri Protoplex will support a broad range of manufacturers, from established companies to startups to entrepreneurs. As the United States aspires to onshore manufacturing, technological universities like Missouri S&T can help.”

Dr. Richard Billo, director of the Protoplex and Distinguished Professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, spoke about the current state of U.S. manufacturing.

“There are few domains in the United States where the impact of technology has been more acutely felt than manufacturing,” Billo said. “The Missouri Protoplex is where the innovations in manufacturing supported by the research we conduct and the technical assistance we provide will be put in the hands of manufacturers. Our goal is to support them in their endeavors and to adopt the advanced manufacturing methods that will help them become and remain as competitive as possible in an increasingly complex marketplace. The work undertaken at the Protoplex will help keep our manufacturers where they belong — at the forefront of American innovation.”

A reception and open house followed the remarks and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Guests toured the Protoplex and visited with students and engineers on hand to demonstrate equipment, discuss their research and answer questions.