Vision:
Changing how the world makes plastic parts. Mission: Standardize Fusion Molding as the plastic manufacturing method of choice. Empowering companies to reduce their dependence on injection molding tools by producing R&D and production parts at the same or better economics and throughput as injection molding. |
Leadership Team
Mike Kastua, MBA, PMPChief Executive Officer
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Charles HolwerkChief Commercialization OfficerEarly involvement in Tesla and SpaceX. Experience with commercializing technical start-up companies.
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Dr. Justin NussbaumFounder and
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Spencer AbbottDirector of R&D
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Caitlin Hoch-NussbaumAssistant General Counsel
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Company History
Ascend Manufacturing: Pioneering Innovation in Additive Manufacturing
- 2018: Ascend Manufacturing's journey began in a lab at the University of South Florida, where Justin Nussbaum had a vision of using large projector lasers to power bed 3D printing, going beyond traditional single-point lasers.
- Innovations Crossroads Award: After graduating with his PhD, Justin's groundbreaking ideas were recognized as he won the Innovations Crossroads Award. This prestigious award was funded by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the US Department of Energy through the Advanced Manufacturing Office.
- Relocating to Knoxville: Eager to turn his vision into reality, Justin moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, and officially founded Ascend Manufacturing.
- Building the Team: The company's momentum continued to grow as Justin shared his passion for Ascend. Soon after, Spencer Abbott joined the team, bringing valuable expertise to the company's expansion and growth.
- Development of Industrial Pilot Machine: With a dedicated team in place, Ascend embarked on the development of an industrial pilot machine, pushing the boundaries of additive manufacturing technology.
- 2023 Milestone: In 2023, Ascend Manufacturing celebrated a major milestone as they successfully launched their first low-volume production machine. This marked a significant step towards realizing their vision of fast and cost-effective production of parts.