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The future of advanced manufacturing

Ceremony celebrates the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub

By Miami University

February 4^th, 2026

The cornerstone of workforce readiness

Together, Miami University and Butler Tech Career Technical Center are building a national model for manufacturing education.

On Monday, a packed house filled the new Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub (AM Hub) to celebrate the grand opening of the 375,000-square-foot facility. Hundreds of attendees lined the atrium and surrounding upper levels for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of Butler County’s new home for advanced manufacturing education, training, and industry partnership.

“What you see today represents a bold vision, a vision for a growing Butler County and a more powerful Ohio,” Miami President Gregory Crawford said during the hour-long program. “This hub is more than just a building. It is a launchpad to train the future workforce in this high-tech and growing area. It’s about training the next generation of talent, right here in Butler County; a unique education that is forward looking, in demand, and designed to prepare Ohioans for high-paying, sustainable jobs.”

Audience seated in atrium listens to speaker at podium below banner: — The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub was held in Hamilton on Feb. 2.

AM Hub provides space for joint programming between Butler Tech, Miami, and OhioMeansJobs Butler County and serves as the foundation for workforce readiness and advanced manufacturing, with learners co-located in the same space.

The $31 million collaboration between Miami, Butler Tech, OhioMeansJobs Butler County, the city of Hamilton, and Butler County officially opened in January.

William Sprankles, superintendent and CEO of Butler Tech, talked of the trust needed to meet an undertaking such as the new hub.

“Meaningful change happens when people are willing to reconsider what a partnership can actually be like,” Sprankles said. “AM Hub has been a radical labor of love with a collective commitment from many people.”

Hands hold a program for the MU AM HUB dedication, with logos for Miami University, Butler Tech, and OhioMeansJobs. The program lists the date as Monday, February 2, 2026, at 101 Knightsbridge Drive, Hamilton, Ohio. — The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub was held in Hamilton on Feb. 2.

Large crowd attends the MU AM HUB Dedication. A speaker stands on stage, addressing attendees seated below and on upper balconies. — The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub was held in Hamilton on Feb. 2.

The new facility expands the Miami University Regionals Hamilton campus. Many students at AM Hub can begin their pathway at Butler Tech, with the opportunity to progress to associate and bachelor’s degrees in Engineering Technology at Miami Regionals and undergraduate and graduate programs in the College of Engineering and Computing on the Oxford campus.

“What a great thing to celebrate. This is a massive investment, but it’s really about people,” U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson said. “It’s about the future, but it’s also about the people who had a vision for it. We’re right here in Hamilton, Ohio, and the amount of energy, positive energy in the right direction, has come about because of leadership.”

Group poses below — The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub was held in Hamilton on Feb. 2.

President Crawford, Sprankles, and Rep. Davidson were among 14 speakers at the event, which also included Mary Schell, chair of the Miami Board of Trustees; Brett Guido, president of the Butler Tech Board of Education; J.P. Nauseef, president and CEO of JobsOhio; T.C. Rogers, president of the Butler County Board of Commissioners; State Sen. George Lang; State Rep. Diane Mullins; Rick Carfagna, senior vice president of government affairs for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce; State Rep. Jennifer Gross; Zac Haines, Miami trustee; State Rep. Thomas Hall; and Ryan Augsburger, president of the Ohio Manufacturing Association.

Randi Thomas, Miami’s vice president of ASPIRE, presided over the official ribbon cutting.

“Today marks a shared commitment to advancing a statewide manufacturing workforce ecosystem, anchored right here in Butler County,” said Schell, who introduced the program with Guido. “The hub represents our commitment to building a talent pipeline that meets today’s needs while anticipating tomorrow’s opportunities.”

Added Guido: “The transformation of this space has been very impressive. The labs and the equipment, the state-of-the-art technology that our industry partners provide, have all made that possible. Those partnerships are what have turned this facility into something meaningful. They ensure students are not just learning about manufacturing, but they’re preparing for successful careers.”

A man speaks at a podium for the MU AM HUB Dedication. The podium displays the logos of Miami University, Butler Tech, and OhioMeansJobs. He wears a gray suit and red tie. — Miami University President Gregory Crawford speaks during the Feb. 2 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub.

Audience seated in atrium listens to speakers at the — The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub was held in Hamilton on Feb. 2.

Guided tours followed the program, which took groups to six zones throughout AM Hub. The zones included opportunities to see OhioMeansJobs workforce resources and career readiness support; labs and classrooms; the robotics arena; the recently dedicated Makino Subtractive Lab; and more.

A student demonstrates a CNC machine to a group of adults at the MU AM HUB dedication. The student presses a button on the machine's control panel. Fluorescent lighting illuminates the manufacturing lab. — A student demonstrates some of the equipment at the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub on Feb. 2.

A young man uses a tablet to control a Yaskawa robot at the MU AM HUB dedication. The robot arm extends over a wooden table. Other people and robots are visible in the background. — Tours followed the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Feb. 2 dedication to the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Hub.

Two men examine a large, white robotic arm with blue accents. The man on the left wears a striped shirt, while the man on the right wears a red sweater and name tag. The robot sits on a wooden table in a brightly lit room. — Guests were able to tour the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub.

The hub is located in the former Vora Technology Park, and Rogers noted the building holds a special place in the story of the community as the Knightsbridge headquarters of Champion Paper.

“It stands as a reminder of Butler County’s proud manufacturing heritage,” Rogers said. “Today we honor that legacy by reimagining this historic space for the next era of manufacturing; one driven by advanced technology, skilled talent, and innovation. There’s something so powerful about seeing a building with such deep roots in our past now positioned at the center of our future.”

A group cuts a ribbon at the MU AM HUB dedication. Eleven people in business attire cut a white ribbon in a manufacturing lab with large machines. — A dedication ceremony was held on Feb. 2 for the Makino Subtractive Lab, held in the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub.

AM Hub also serves as the cornerstone for Miami University Polytechnic, which is part of MiamiTHRIVE, the university’s strategic plan.

“American strength has always been by creating something, building things, making things, and innovating. That’s the American way,” President Crawford said. “To secure our nation’s future, we must invest boldly in manufacturing technology and education that prepares the next generation of skilled workers, problem solvers, and leaders.

“Our ambition is to lead the nation in manufacturing education, right here in Butler County and the great state of Ohio.”

Two men converse at the MU AM HUB dedication. One man points while speaking to the other, who wears a name tag reading — Miami University President Gregory Crawford, right, speaks with Peter Hoecklin, president of Makino.

Man speaks at the MU AM HUB dedication, standing at a Butler Tech/Miami University podium. He wears a suit and glasses, gesturing in front of advanced manufacturing machinery. — Ande Durojaiye, Miami's vice president for strategy and partnerships, speaks during the dedication of the Makino Subtractive Lab on Feb. 2.

A humanoid robot with glowing eyes extends its hands, as if inviting interaction, in a manufacturing hub. The robot is white and black with a perforated speaker-like mouth. — Robotics are a part of the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub.

A computer lab at the R1026 AM Hub shows rows of desks with computers. A red wall is on the left, and large windows show a snowy scene outside. — An education space in the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub.

An overhead shot shows a large crowd gathered in a multi-story atrium for the R1026 AM Hub Ribbon Cutting. People stand on balconies overlooking the main floor, where rows of chairs are filled with attendees. — A packed atrium at the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub.

Watch the video

Footnotes

Photos by Scott Kissell of University Communications and Marketing and Tony Tribble; video by Dispatch Video; story by Josh Chapin, University Communications and Marketing

FootNotes

Photos by Scott Kissell of University Communications and Marketing and Tony Tribble; video by Dispatch Video; story by Josh Chapin, University Communications and Marketing

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