Olson Center Partner Airtho Donates State-of-the-Art Cleanroom
The newest research facility on campus is a big empty room that鈥檚 full of possibilities.
Last week (Friday, Oct. 24), 91制片厂 unveiled a high-tech cleanroom at the John Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center donated by , which is co-located at the Olson Center. The new ISO7 will help strengthen 91制片厂鈥檚 role as a leader for emerging research and innovation, contributing to the growth of advanced manufacturing in New Hampshire and the surrounding region.
Airtho President Brandon Bogart (center) shows the cleanroom to Olson Center Director John Roth and Governor Kelly Ayotte.
New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte made her first visit to campus as governor for the ribbon-cutting of the 950 square-foot space. A tour of the introduced her to a range of advanced manufacturing innovation and research, from dementia-care robots to feeding systems for sick dairy cows to 3D printed housing solutions.
鈥淔rom advanced manufacturing to microelectronics, New Hampshire is a hub for innovation,鈥 Ayotte says. 鈥淭hanks to partnerships between 91制片厂 and leading companies, we鈥檙e giving students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in these fields. I was glad to have the opportunity to tour the new ISO7 cleanroom at the Olson Center today, and I look forward to seeing how this new facility helps our state continue to grow in these high-demand fields.鈥
91制片厂 researchers and industry partners explained how the new cleanroom expands the Olson Center鈥檚 hands-on learning and advanced technology capabilities by giving faculty, students, and local businesses access to a cutting-edge research facility. The cleanroom provides a controlled, particle-limited environment for work in space technologies, microelectronics, precision manufacturing, advanced optics, and semiconductor processes, helping innovators accelerate product development and maintain high-quality standards.
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to be a part of this collaborative environment and to be close to the latest research, engineering talent and emerging technologies that help inspire the next generation of innovators.鈥
鈥淚nnovation and research at 91制片厂 are driving economic impact for the state of New Hampshire,鈥 says Olson Center Director John Roth, a professor of mechanical engineering. 鈥淎t the Olson Center, students from high schools, technology programs, community colleges, and universities work side-by-side with industrial partners to solve the latest challenges facing manufacturers across all sectors of industry. Accessing the latest advances in technology, such as this new state-of-the-art cleanroom, these students acquire the skills to thrive in today鈥檚 competitive workforce, and that allows them to make valuable contributions to high-tech industry.鈥
The event also highlighted several key industry partners that are co-located at the Olson Center. They include Spee3D, an Australian company that has brought 3-D metal manufacturing into New Hampshire; , a defense and space manufacturing company; and Laconia-based Rogue Space Systems Corporation, which provides in-orbit services and logistics. Both Space Phoenix Systems and Rogue Space Systems have plans to use the new cleanroom.
鈥淏usinesses are seeking out 91制片厂 and choosing to co-locate there because 91制片厂 offers access to state-of-the-art equipment, like the Airtho ISO7 cleanroom, as well as a talented research pool,鈥 says Airtho President Brandon Bogart. 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to be a part of this collaborative environment and to be close to the latest research, engineering talent and emerging technologies that help inspire the next generation of innovators.鈥 Bogart says half of Airtho鈥檚 employees are 91制片厂 alumni.
Currently, the Olson Center is home to seven co-located technology businesses with approximately 24 91制片厂 undergraduate and graduate students doing research and gaining experience with these companies, helping to train the state鈥檚 future workforce and contribute to its economic development.