Clean-diesel companies to use new manufacturing systems

Two companies that are developing clean-diesel technologies will be in the forefront of a federally funded effort to create a more nimble, technologically savvy manufacturing sector in northern Nevada.

A $395,000 federal grant will be used to:

* Show how small and medium-sized manufacturers can use the Internet to tie their supply chains together. While big manufacturers depend on Web-based management of their supply chains, smaller companies haven't had software tools that allow them to do so.

* Create a "virtual manufacturing center" that will demonstrate how small and mid-sized manufacturers can use rapid prototyping and digital fabrication, in which computers fabricate components directly on three-dimensional printers.

* Begin teaching new manufacturing skills to workers in participating companies as well as through community colleges and other educational centers.

The grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce was awarded to Nevada Industry Excellence, the arm of the state's higher education system that seeks to strengthen manufacturers, and the Renewable Energy Accelerator at 250 Bell Street, a Reno nonprofit more commonly known as REA250.

The two nonprofits, in turn, have enlisted Speed of Air Global Technologies of Reno and Autocore, a Detroit company that plans to move to Reno, to show how the process can work.

Both companies are working on anti-idle technology for big truck tractors.

The two companies will use Web-based systems to manage their supply chains, which probably will include about 10 companies in the region, said Rene Zandonella, a project manager with Nevada Industry Excellence.

REA250, meanwhile, is home to what it calls an eResource Center that will host the virtual manufacturing center, said Leslie Farias, who handles special projects for REA250.

It will distribute information about manufacturing techniques such as rapid prototyping, which provides the ability for manufacturers to retool quickly and make a profit on short production runs.

Jeff Lawrence, operations manager for Nevada Industry Excellence, said the short-term goals of the program include learning as much as possible about digital fabrication and Web-based chains for small- and medium-sized manufacturers.

Over the longer term, he said the organizers hope they can spread that knowledge through trade schools, apprenticeships and corporate training programs to help build a stronger manufacturing sector in Nevada.

Providing help to the northern Nevada effort will be the Cleveland-based Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network, as well as national researchers in supply-chain management.