Jacksonville State University Expands Additive Manufacturing Leadership with EOS Partnership
Jacksonville, AL (10/23/2025) — Jacksonville State University's Center for Manufacturing Support (CMS) today announced a new partnership with EOS North America to expand additive manufacturing education, training, and applied research. As part of the initiative, CMS has added a second EOS M290 metal 3D printer, pushing its total additive manufacturing investment beyond $3 million and further cementing its reputation as one of the Southeast's most comprehensive university-based additive labs.
Unlike additive centers at many universities that focus narrowly on experimental or niche research technologies, the CMS was designed to help industry solve real-world engineering problems. Every system in the CMS's 80+ machine portfolio is a proven, industry-ready technology with the potential to strengthen U.S. manufacturing competitiveness. The new EOS partnership builds on this philosophy, integrating EOS's Ignite Program training modules into CMS curriculum and workforce programs.
"Unlike many university labs that focus on experimental technologies years from mainstream industry adoption, our mission at CMS is to deliver solutions manufacturers can use right now," said Matt Rosser, Director of the Center for Manufacturing Support at Jax State. "The Ignite Program, paired with our second EOS M290, strengthens our applied approach, proving out technologies, training the workforce, and helping U.S. manufacturers stay globally competitive."
Through the EOS Ignite Program, Jax State students and industry partners gain access to structured, industry-recognized training on additive manufacturing fundamentals, design for AM, system operation, and process science. Combined with CMS's end-to-end capability - from 3D scanning to design, printing, post-processing, and inspection - the partnership makes Jax State a regional hub for workforce development, applied research, and advanced manufacturing support.
"The Ignite Program was built to bridge the gap between industrial needs and education - by collaborating with innovative institutions like Jax State, we're empowering the next generation of engineers with the skills and confidence to contribute meaningfully to the future of additive manufacturing," said Fabian Alefeld, Global Director of Business Development and Additive Minds Academy at EOS.
With over 80 additive and scanning systems, including metals, composites, polymers, and post-processing technologies, CMS now stands out nationally not just for the scale of its lab, but for its applied mission: ensuring advanced technologies are accessible, relevant, and impactful for U.S. manufacturers.
For more information about the Jax State Center for Manufacturing Support and its additive manufacturing capabilities, visit the Center for Manufacturing Support's website.
About Jacksonville State University: Founded in 1883 as a state teachers' college, Jacksonville State University has grown from humble beginnings into the Alabama regional university with the highest percentage of accredited programs. Located in the Appalachian foothills midway between Birmingham and Atlanta, Jax State offers more than 150 courses of study, including over 40 online programs, at the undergraduate and graduate levels. To learn more, visit www.jsu.edu, call 1-800-231-JAX1, or e-mail jaxfacts@jsu.edu.