Justin West, a young trailblazer in the field of advanced machining, has been honored as a 2024 SME 30 Under 30 award recipient. The Society of Manufacturing Engineers, or SME, has selected this researcher from the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for his work that has the potential to significantly impact the manufacturing industry. The 30 Under 30 program by SME is a prestigious recognition for young professionals who are eyed to shape the industry's future, selecting standout individuals from a variety of roles, including entrepreneurs, engineers, students, and academics.
In his work at ORNL, West has proven to quickly become an asset, having joined the lab's Advanced Machine and Machine Tool Research group first as an intern before quickly transitioning to a full-time role. According to a statement obtained by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, "We realized very quickly that we wanted Justin on our team," said Scott Smith, ORNL section head for precision manufacturing and machining. His ability to eagerly take on projects spanning various disciplines anchors his position as a valuable team member. His innovative approach toward problems like machine tool design and additive manufacturing has duly been recognized.
West's contributions are personified through projects like the Concrete Base Machine – a venture started during his internship that reached public light at the 2020 International Manufacturing Technology Show. This particular CNC machine innovates by using fiberglass-reinforced concrete for its base, circumventing issues like cost and overseas manufacturing associated with traditional cast iron. Additionally, it features a strategy that allows for working on parts larger than the machine's actual capacity by feeding material through in intervals.
Currently at ORNL's Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, or MDF, West is collaborating to commercialize the Concrete Base Machine, targeting its application within mining and wind energy industries. The MDF, as detailed in an ORNL news release, is a collaborative hub supported by DOE’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) and is a nexus for manufacturing innovation in the United States. It's these kinds of endeavors that UT-Battelle, the management firm for ORNL, seeks to foster under DOE’s Office of Science guidance, the largest U.S. benefactor for physical sciences research.
For his part, West expressed his gratitude and recognition of the company he now keeps as a 30 Under 30 honoree. "I've been an SME member for about five years and have always enjoyed reading the 30 Under 30 profiles," West told Oak Ridge National Laboratory. "They're all people who are driving the future of manufacturing. It is an honor to be recognized among such talented individuals."
