The Race For An Edison Award

SINCE 1987, THE EDISON AWARDS HAVE CHAMPIONED A GLOBAL INNOVATION HONORING THE MOST IMPACTFUL PRODUCTS IN THEIR CATEGORIES. ITS NAMESAKE THOMAS ALVA EDISON INVENTED THE LIGHT BULB IN MANY OTHER TECHNOLOGIES. HE CALLED FORT MYERS HOME DURING HIS WINTERS HERE. THIS YEAR'S EDISON AWARD WINNERS WILL BE NAMED RIGHT HERE IN THE FORT MYERS RIVER DISTRICT. 5 FINALISTS ARE FROM SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. WGCU’S EMMA RODRIGUEZ INTRODUCES US TO ONE OF THOSE FINALISTS. THE FORT MYERS BASED ADVENT GROUP. >> FOR ADDMAN CEO JOE COUNTIES, THE FIVE-YEAR-OLD COMPANY’S, FIRST EDISON AWARD NOMINATION IS A BIG DEAL. I THINK ANY TIME YOU'RE PETERS RECOGNIZE. >> THAT YOU ALSO HAVE THINGS THAT ARE IMPACTFUL TO THE HUMANITY. THAT'S THAT'S ALWAYS AN HONOR. >> AD MAN IS SHORT FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, WHICH IS THE FORMAL TERM FOR INDUSTRIAL 3 D PRINTING 3 D PRINTERS CREATE STRONG, COHESIVE PARTS OUT OF PLASTIC AND METAL TO BE USED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES. THIS IS THE BREAD AND BUTTER OF THE COMPANY. AS FOUNDER MARK SABERTON EXPLAINS, WE MAKE PARTS FOR INDUSTRY PLASTIC PARTS METAL PARTS, THEN THE MEDALS WE'D MAKE EVERYTHING FROM. >> TINY LITTLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS FOR COMPANIES TO LOCAL COMPANIES LIKE OUR TRACKS AND LARGE OTHER LARGE INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES, ALL THE WAY TO GIANT ROCKET ENGINES FOR SPACECRAFT. UNLIKE MOST EDISON AWARD FINALISTS. >> ADDMAN'S NOMINATION IS NOT AN ACTUAL PRODUCT. IT'S A BRAND NEW TECHNIQUE IN THE REALM OF 3 D PRINTING CALLED AT CAM SHORT FOR ADDITIVE COMPUTER AIDED IN TRADITIONAL 3 D PRINTING MACHINES CREATE PARTS BY APPLYING MATERIALS LAYER BY LAYER ONE ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER INSTEAD. AND CAM INTERLOCKS. THOSE LAYERS AD MAN SAYS THIS TYPE OF 3 D PRINTING MAKES THE FINISHED PRODUCT 100 TIMES LESS. POROUS AND UP TO 70 PER CENT STRONGER. SAY BURTON SAYS THIS NEW TECHNIQUE IS AVAILABLE BY DOWNLOADING A SIMPLE PIECE OF SOFTWARE AND IT'S REVOLUTIONIZING THE COMPANY'S OPERATIONS. >> 90% OF THE PARTS WE MAKE OUR FUNCTIONAL PARKS WHERE THEY'RE UNDER STRESSES AND STRAINS AND ABUSE THAT ACTUAL FUNCTIONAL CONDITION. THAT'S A THAT'S IT. HUGE STAFF FROM THE SHOW AND TELL TYPE MODELS TO ACTUAL FUNCTIONAL PARTS. >> BUT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE NOT JUST FOR AT MAN THERE FOR THE ENTIRE 3 D PRINTING WORLD. ED KAMM DOES NOT REQUIRE AN EXPENSIVE MACHINE THAT USES ENVIRONMENTALLY STRESSFUL MATERIALS. >> THIS SOFTWARE ENABLES COMPANIES, UNIVERSITIES, INDIVIDUALS AT THEIR HOUSE TO GET STRONGER PARTS, MUCH, MUCH, MUCH LOWER COST THAN WHAT YOU COULD PROVIDE OTHERWISE. BUT OUR BELIEF AND OUR HOPE IS THAT I CAN REALLY SERVES AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR FOR SOME 5TH GRADER, RIGHT? OW. WHO NEEDS SOME PROJECT TO BE STRONGER AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE EQUIPMENT. SO ANYTIME YOU CAN SORT OF DEMOCRATIZE ACCESS TO IMPROVE TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE A WHOLE WORLD OF INNOVATORS FOR WDSU