Manufacturing Day at the Illinois MakerLab

The Illinois MakerLab hosted tours as part of the National Manufacturing Day events that took place in Champaign County on October 4, 2019. National Manufacturing Day celebrates modern manufacturing with a goal of inspiring the next generation of manufacturers. As a manufacturer, the Illinois MakerLab was given the opportunity to give tours of their lab, explain the ways 3D printing can advance manufacturing, and answer questions.

The Illinois MakerLab created 3D-printed keychains inscribed with the hashtag #MadeinCC (Made in Champaign County) for the tours they hosted on Manufacturing Day. Because of the speed and efficiency of the 3D printers, the Illinois MakerLab is able to manufacture small-scale products like keychains in bulk. This emerging technology has implications for many areas of business, and can improve consumer education about manufacturing.