Manufacturing plays a critical role in the U.S. economy, employing millions of people and contributing significantly to the nation’s annual GDP and exports. This sector involves converting a wide range of raw materials, components and parts into finished goods. Yet it also consumes large amounts of energy, water and other natural resources such as rare earth metals. In fact, the idustrial and manufacturing sector accounts for more than 25 percent of U.S. energy consumption. In addition, many conventional manufacturing processes produce waste streams.
Advanced manufacturing is a national science priority with emphasis on partnerships among industry, academia and national labs. To help U.S. manufacturing maintain a competitive edge, INL researchers are developing new processes and technologies to reduce the life-cycle energy consumption of manufactured goods and ensure critical material supplies.
INL's historic mission has fostered a number of core capabilities that are ideally suited for solving these challenges. Our strategic drivers include lowering energy consumption, securing supplies of critical energy materials and reducing waste.
For more information contact Anne Gaffney, Director, Process Science & Technology, (208) 526-6110.
