Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovative Design and Larsen Motorsports Expand Relationship

MELBOURNE, FLA. — Florida Tech affiliate Larsen Motorsports and the university’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovative Design have announced a new partnership that will provide more opportunities for cutting-edge projects and hands-on experiences for students.

“This affiliation allows for an entirely new avenue of educational development along with mutually beneficial projects and interactive workshops,” said Chris Larsen, co-founder and CEO of Larsen Motorsports.

CAMID Director Juan Avendano Arbelaez added, “This collaboration agreement is the natural evolution of the beneficial relationship between CAMID and Larsen Motorsports. It will help us expand our mission of workforce development by enhancing the educational components with exciting hands-on experiences.”

The partnership will center on three areas:

• workforce development geared toward local industries;
• projects at both CAMID and LMS to further academia, industry and motorsports;
• workshops on various topics for high school and college students and industry professionals.  

CAMID, announced in 2015, is based in a 100,000-square-foot building at 2495 Palm Bay Road NE in Palm Bay. It offers the latest digital modeling, simulation and visualization technologies, as well as cutting-edge computer-driven manufacturing equipment, including a substantial emphasis on additive methods such as 3D metal and other material printing, circuit board printing and crystal growth.

It involves expert resources such as industry-oriented professors and industry experts in a wide variety of engineering, systems engineering, materials research and advanced manufacturing.

The same year CAMID was unveiled, Florida Tech also announced its new affiliation with Larsen Motorsports. Previously based in Daytona Beach, LMS relocated to a 30,000-square-foot space across the breezeway from CAMID. Home to two jet dragster teams, including the Florida Tech jet dragster, the business is far more than a racing company. It is also a leading research and development organization with full concept, design, engineering and operational capabilities in-house. A cadre of Florida Tech student interns and alumni are involved in most key operations.

The first project under the partnership? Building a better steering wheel. LMS Director of Operations Brian Tocci is working alongside Florida Tech student interns to create a 3D-printed steering wheel for LMS jet dragsters.