AIM leaders visit Protoplex facility at Missouri University of Science and Technology

By Matthew Smith, VP Government Affairs, Associated Industries of Missouri

On September 16^th, Associated Industries of Missouri (AIM) visited Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) to tour the Protoplex advanced manufacturing facility that is under construction at the university. We had a great conversation with Dr. Richard E. Billo, Director of the Kummer Institute Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Director of the Missouri Protoplex, and Angelina Billo, Industry Engagement Officer, about the future of economic development in Missouri related to advanced manufacturing and the challenges facing Missouri manufacturers.

The Missouri Protoplex facility, at more than 100,000 square feet, will be home to the latest cutting-edge technology and foster research and development for advanced manufacturing. The purpose of the Protoplex is to combine industry and academia to conduct research and find solutions to the challenges faced by Missouri manufacturers. The building includes a high bay which will house the machinery to find these solutions, research corporate offices that are leased to companies utilizing the Protoplex, and labs for children between the grades of 4^th through 12^th to begin their journey into manufacturing and engineering.

We also toured the CAMT Lab (Center for Aerospace Manufacturing Technology) at Missouri S&T, where the university’s most advanced manufacturing machinery is currently located. This includes machines such as a Quad Laser Powder Bed Fusion 3D printer, which is capable of applying a laser to a bed of metal powder to create highly complex and precise parts; and a Laser Micro Welder, a robotic machine that uses laser technology capable of making microwelds in a damaged part to repair small cracks and pits in cast parts. These were only two of the impressive, advanced technologies that are utilized at Missouri S&T.

These facilities were extremely impressive. But the most important part of the day was our conversation with Dr. Billo and Angelina Billo.

We discussed the many needs of economic development to support advanced manufacturing in Missouri. It is projected that the output from the Kummer Institute, which includes the Missouri Protoplex, will yield $3.5 billion in gross state product over 35 years. This massive product will be produced using an initial investment of $100 million. Dr. Billo explained that while we are able to attract individuals to come and study in the state of Missouri, they often decide to leave the state and return to their home state. This is why Dr. Billo is seeking to invest in rural outreach and find talented K-12 youth that are interested in advanced manufacturing, robotics and other industrial technologies. When these young adults are trained in Missouri, we hope they will be able to find employment in Missouri manufacturing facilities, including rural parts of the state where manufacturers are often major employers, and where they would like to return.

Another challenge that manufacturing research faces is funding. When industries come to Missouri S&T, especially small and mid-size manufacturers, and attempt to find solutions to manufacturing problems, they often are unable to afford the technical assistance they need to solve their problems. Because of these constraints in research and development, the process of solving these issues is delayed, which restrains innovation. It is essential that we find solutions to these problems, so innovation continues to thrive in our state and in the United States.

The example above on the investment of the Protoplex applies to these constraints: investing in Missouri and our manufacturing research facilities must be a priority. In Missouri, we are fortunate to have such an impressive facility to help move advanced manufacturing technology from the research stage into production on the shop floor. This facility will attract billions of dollars in investment and provide high-tech jobs.

L to R: Matthew Smith, Ray McCarty, Dr. Richard Billo, Angelina Billo

We would like to thank Dr. Billo and Angelina Billo for their service to our state and for taking the time to talk with us and demonstrate the importance of the work they are doing. Associated Industries of Missouri is committed to continuing our conversation with Missouri S&T to find solutions to the problems facing Missouri manufacturers.

The Missouri Protoplex is scheduled to open April 15, 2026.