Exploring Manufacturing in Arizona E16
In this episode of STEM Unplugged, we have Eric Miller on the show. Eric is the Principal & Co-Founder of PADT. We will get the explanation of what PADT is able to support in the manufacturing industry. Also on the show is Earl Wiggins, the VP of Manufacturing and Operations from EnPower, Inc.
Claire Conway of SciTech Institute joined the conversation with the focus on Manufacturing Month and the role of the Arizona Advanced Manufacturing Coalition project for sharing opportunities in STEM around Arizona.
Tune in to listen and appreciate the opportunity to explore Manufacturing in Arizona and beyond. The discussion covers some of the misconceptions about manufacturing careers, materials, the technology and product lines created in our communities. We also discuss the supply chain and examples of career opportunities in advancing a manufacturing process of a product.
Guests shared ways to encourage the workforce to learn a trade skill and be users of technology in a productive manner for a career. We discussed the skills necessary to be successful, not only in manufacturing, but in the advancing work environment today.
We also learned about the difference between semiconductor and battery manufacturing. Arizona continues to grow and advance, so consider a career pathway in the manufacturing industry!
PADT is the Southwest’s leading provider of products and services for simulation, product development, and digital manufacturing. They are in the business of helping those who make things, make them better.
Based in Tempe, Arizona with offices across the southeast, their 95 employees have been helping customers make innovation work since 1994.
Eric Miller is a co-owner of Tempe-based PADT, which provides tools and services to companies that design and manufacture physical products. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley.
As co-founder of PADT in 1994, Eric pursued his interests in simulation, 3D printing, small business management.
Eric often writes and speaks on simulation, design, and 3D printing along with startups and the high-tech sector.
In addition, he is a startup mentor and angel investor, sits on the board of several tech-related organizations, and is Chair of the Arizona Technology Council Board.
Connect with Eric on LinkedIn.
EnPower, Inc. is a lithium-ion battery company building cells that solve the trade-off between energy and power. EnPower’s patented multilayer electrodes enable high energy density cells to repeatedly fast charge without causing degradation or capacity fade in the batteries, a critical challenge for the mass adoption of electric vehicles.
The technology has been validated by an automotive OEM and the company is currently sampling pouch cells to prospective customers in the automotive, defense, and specialty vehicle markets.
EnPower is headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, where a 240-kWh R&D line enables rapid prototyping and customer sampling. The company’s first commercial cells will be qualified in mid-2022 and its manufacturing capacity will ramp to 800 MWh of production by the end of 2023.
Earl Wiggins joined EnPower in June 2021 as Vice President of Operations and Manufacturing. In this role, Earl provides strategic and managerial leadership across product development, commercialization, and supply chain and procurement processes.
Earl spent the last two years with Tesla Motors as part of the team bringing up the new battery manufacturing facility focusing predominantly on electrode manufacturing after Tesla acquired Maxwell Technologies.
Earl had spent 13 years before the Tesla acquisition scaling the Maxwell Technologies supercapacitor manufacturing capability, increasing volume by three orders of magnitude. During his time at Maxwell, Earl brought on line three new manufacturing facilities in Asia and the U.S., including the electrode & module manufacturing plant in Peoria, Arizona.
Before Maxwell, Earl spent 21 years in the data storage industry with Quantum Corporation and Maxtor in engineering and operations senior management roles. He is a graduate of the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
Earl lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife, two dogs, and a small herd of horses.
Follow EnPower on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Claire Conway is the STEM Ecosystem Programs Manager at SciTech Institute.
Connect with Claire on LinkedIn.
About Our Sponsor
SciTech Institute™ was established as the Arizona Technology Council Foundation as the conduit for collaboration among STEM industry, academia, civic, and non-profit organizations in Arizona. Now, rebranded and named the SciTech Institute™ the goal centers around aligning assets and resources to motivate individuals to pursue STEM-related educational and career paths or find a passion while engaged in community events during the SciTech Festival.
The Chief Science Officer program highlights the 6th-12th graders that have been selected as leaders in their schools and communities to receive training to build a world-class community of diverse STEM-literate workers and knowledgeable, engaged citizens. Science For All allows for tax credit donations to provide engaging experiences for students while RAIN (Rural Activation Innovation Network) focuses on resources for the rural areas of Arizona.
As a STEM Learning Ecosystem, SciTech Institute™ focuses on collaboration and connecting individuals with opportunities! STEM Professionals are encouraged to engage with the future workforce by serving as a mentor, leadership coach, panelist, keynote and session trainer during a variety of conferences hosted or sponsored by SciTech Institute™ and The Arizona Technology Council.
Teachers and Administrators are invited to connect with the resources available while activating a large network of STEM champions for student projects, judges at events, volunteers, exhibitors and more. SciTech Festival Event Coordinators are supported during the planning and execution of community STEM events around the state by the SciTech STREET Team Members and the growing network of volunteers. The possibilities are endless! SciTech Institute™ looks forward to connecting with you today. Visit SciTechInstitute.org today for more information.
Follow SciTech Institute on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Your STEM Unplugged Host
After grow up in rural New York and joining the United States Army, Kelly Greene learned quickly to adapt to her surroundings to be successful. She attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education.
She also enlisted in the United States Army and after graduating from training, Kelly traveled the world with the military. While stationed in Misawa, Japan, she fell in love with learning about cultures around the world. Even as a deployed Soldier during Operation Iraqi Freedom for two tours, she found opportunities to connect with the local children to form the Victory Base Council Girl Scouts with her fellow servicemen.
In 2013, she was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and traveled the country by air. During this deployment, she had the opportunity to utilize the most advanced technologies available to the tactical HUMINT operations in theater. Upon return from combat, she retired with 21 years of service and began teaching. From 6th grade Math to 7th grade STEM, Kelly used her enthusiastic nature combined with her strong classroom management to design curriculum based on the Engineering Design Process!
Now, as the Chief Operating Officer at SciTech Institute, Kelly is excited to serve the communities in Arizona and beyond to share their interest in STEM!
