IMTS
Rally Fighter Graphic Skins Competition

Are you ready for another Rally Fighter Graphic Skins competition? Local Motors is teaming up with the organizers of the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) to host the IMTS Rally Fighter Graphic Skins competition. It starts February 7, 2012 on The Forge at Local Motors.

IMTS takes place September 10-15 in Chicago and features the most advanced manufacturing technology in the world. The show organizers have purchased two Rally Fighters to showcase at this event. They will build one of them at our micro-factory in Chandler, Ariz., the other will be built LIVE on the actual IMTS show floor!

Submit your Designs

Starting today, February 7 thru February 21, 2012.

At least it is in the opinion of John B. “Jay” Rogers Jr., co-founder and CEO of Local Motors, a new American car company that is changing the way cars are designed, built, and sold.  

In a recent article he wrote for “Inc.” magazine, Jay explained that the fastest growing companies usually were the result of a more creative management style, CIO being the Chief Innovation Officer.  Companies cannot be satisfied with just making products, they need to be on the “hunt” as Rogers says for new technologies, new strategies and new innovations to keep their company successful.  It also means that you need a skilled labor force to create and support these new products.

Innovation will happen when we are not only “hunting” for new technologies and processes but also when we appreciate and cultivate the labor force behind the creation.

I am a self-confessed Star Trek geek (not a Trekkie mind you) but a bona fide fan.  So when real life starts to imitate life aboard the Enterprise I get very excited.  I had the privilege of touring one of the prominent companies in this rapidly growing field of 3D printing, 3D Systems in Rock Hill, South Carolina. 

The first thing you will notice is the versatility of this technology.  They have the capability of creating items of great complexity on a desktop model as well things like motorcycle parts in their larger machines.  And they are created one mico-layer at a time. 

Shane Richmond of the “The Telegraph” stated in a recent article, “3D printing: the technology that could re-shape the world” (sic), since the printers are getting cheaper we may soon see the general public creating their own consumer goods - right in their own homes.  Can you imagine?

 The only difference between what  3D Systems can make  and Star Trek is that it doesn’t happen instantaneously….yet….

ZombieFit is an exercise class in St. Charles Illinois where they literally prepare you for the day when Zombies attack.  Each day you will run, jump, vault and throw tires in a foam rubber mock-up of an urban setting after all you need to practice to save yourself from the brain-eating monsters.

They have WOD or workouts of the day to keep you in shape.  I think this is what has been missing in my exercise routine - I needed to motivated by Zombies.