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Old Posted Oct 18, 2016, 10:46 PM
Justin_Chicago Justin_Chicago is offline
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GE opening microfactory in Chicago to build industrial prototypes

GE is opening a microfactory in Chicago to turn big industrial ideas into small-batch prototypes.

The Chicago manufacturing facility, set to open in December, will be the first for Fuse, a new GE crowdsourcing initiative to create and build innovative industrial products. One of the first challenges on the Fuse drawing board, for example, is finding a new way to quickly inspect a hot jet engine between flights.

"The idea of reaching out to the online community really accelerates how we introduce new products," said Axel Grippo, Fuse's inaugural general manager.

The microfactory will be housed inside the mHub technology incubator, and will employ a staff of about 15 to 20 once manufacturing gets up to speed, Grippo said. The first prototype is expected to roll out early next year.

A nonprofit technology innovation center focused on manufacturing, mHub is set to formally open this winter in Motorola Mobility's old River West space at 965 W. Chicago Ave. The 63,000-square-foot facility includes 10 production labs, equipment, open space and everything needed to create and manufacture a prototype product.

GE Ventures is a partner in mHub, and Fuse will be among its first tenants.

Choosing Chicago as the site of the first Fuse microfactory didn't require a crowdsourcing challenge, according to Lisa Ralph, innovations program manager at GE.

"Chicago is one of the burgeoning tech hubs," Ralph said. "There's been a lot of investments in the digital ecosystem, so we're very excited to position Fuse as a great network across these communities."

Article: http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...018-story.html
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