UI Labs

Chicago Tribune (April 24) -- In five to 10 years, Mike Hobbs said he envisions his plant operated by robots, the reason he hosted the Digital Lab for Manufacturing’s first forum Wednesday for small to midsize companies. The $320 million lab, announced in February, will be based on Goose Island in Chicago. The lab aims to team manufacturing experts, software companies and universities to spread cutting-edge technology through supply chains, to design and test new products, and to reduce costs in manufacturing processes across many industries. The lab will employ 80 to 100 people by the end of its first year. Oversight will be managed by UI Labs, a nascent U. of I.-affiliated effort focused on turning academic research into moneymaking, job-creating products. William King, a U. of I. professor of mechanical science and engineering, is the lab’s chief technology officer.