Advanced Manufacturing at RIT
By: Ashley Zilka
Updated: November 16, 2012
The goal is to attract companies to Rochester with some of the school's newest equipment for printed electronic devices. That means more jobs for the local economy.
Matthew Jackson is a 21 year old RIT student with a bright future. The industrial engineering student works at the school's Earl W. Brinkman Lab, and the experience already helped him land a job at Intrinsiq.
"Three weeks on the job and I was already meeting one of the highest people in New York State," said Jackson.
The lab at RIT has some of the newest state of the art equipment. It's one of the reasons why the school plans to partner with private firms on advanced manufacturing projects.
"Our students are trained on the latest equipment, so if they want to employ talented people for their workforce, they come out of RIT ready to go," said RIT President, Bill Destler.
Advanced manufacturing is being used to develop products such as smart sensors, biomedical devices and touch screens. Students will help private firms manufacture some of these new technologies.
"RIT has such a strong dedication to practical applied education and research, and that plays right into the industry partnerships. Industry partners bring the real world perspective and keep us focused on what's really important to them," said Denis Cormier, Earl W. Brinkman Professor.
Meaning at the end of the day, the RIT lab is creating lots of jobs.
"Anytime you can have leading technology in your area for anything it's good. If people want that speed, that product, this is one of the places that they have to come to," said Senator Joe Robach.
"I never had the vision when I came in here as a freshman and this is exactly how everything was going to go. Things have kind of just fallen into place overtime and it's worked out well," said Jackson.
The lab's most recent piece of equipment is a Pulseforge. It uses high-intensity light to heat materials used for printed electronics. RIT is one of the only universities in the country to have it.


