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Jorgen Pederson, PRN president. | Credit score: Pittsburgh Robotics Community

The Pittsburgh Robotics Community, a nonprofit group devoted to fostering innovation and progress for the southwest Pennsylvania area’s robotics cluster, yesterday introduced adjustments to its board of administrators and government officers. Jorgen Pedersen has stepped in as the brand new board president, and Stephen Muck is now secretary.

Kevin Dowling, the earlier board president, has concluded his time period however will proceed to contribute his experience as an everyday PRN board member.

Louisa Michaels, chief monetary officer on the ARM Institute, and Peter Rander, president of Stack AV, will spherical out the board officers as treasurer and government committee member, respectively.

Pittsburgh Robotics Community a catalyst for regional robotics progress

Underneath the management of Govt Director Jennifer Apicella, the Pittsburgh Robotics Community mentioned it’s evolving to align applications with financial improvement initiatives, broaden public-private partnerships each domestically and globally, and act as a catalyst for accelerating business progress and adoption of autonomous programs in rising industries.

Jennifer Apicella is government director of PRN. | Supply: Jim Harris/PBT

“These adjustments to our board’s government officers will assist assist my ongoing efforts and place the PRN for achievement,” said Apicella in a launch. “The Pittsburgh Robotics ecosystem is at a pivotal second in our progress as one of many world’s prime business robotics clusters.”

“Nonetheless, it’s extra vital now than ever to be intentional about our work, use data-driven approaches, and try for excellence,” she added. “Being on prime is tough work, however staying there’s even more durable. So whereas there’s nonetheless work to be executed for our area to remain aggressive as a globally acknowledged robotics hub, we’ll proceed to remain centered on driving high-impact outcomes for these corporations to see them develop.”

Robotics Manufacturing facility incubates younger startups

Jorgen Pedersen, the incoming president, brings a long time of robotics trade expertise to the board. He was the founder and CEO of RE2 Robotics, a developer of superior robotic manipulation applied sciences throughout a number of industries together with protection, power, aviation, and building. Pedersen led RE2 Robotics from a small startup to a acknowledged chief within the discipline of cell manipulation.

RE2 was acquired by Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah-based Sarcos in March 2022 for $100 million, and Sarcos later laid off a lot of its robotics division.

Pedersen is at present serving as a robotics entrepreneur in residence at Innovation Works’ Robotics Manufacturing facility, facilitating the creation of robotics corporations and offering mentorship as they develop and scale.

“Along with useful networking alternatives and collaboration with different financial improvement organizations throughout the area, my objective is to assist the PRN present elevated worth to its members to allow them to scale their companies and, in flip, develop the robotics ecosystem in Pittsburgh,” he said.

Stephen Muck, secretary of PRN. | Credit score: Pittsburgh Robotics Community

Stephen Muck, a PRN board member since January 2022 and the brand new secretary, is a distinguished determine in each the development and robotics industries. He was the chairman and CEO of Brayman Building Corp. and the founder and government chairman of Superior Building Robotics (ACR).

Muck has greater than 30 years of expertise within the enterprise, building, personal fairness, funding banking, and financial improvement fields. He has established partnerships amongst world-class robotics consultants, building trade veterans, and an modern enterprise group to commercialize robotics merchandise for the development trade.

Underneath Muck’s steering, ACR has centered on creating programs to boost productiveness and enhance security on building websites. The corporate’s notable improvements embrace TyBOT, an autonomous rebar-tying robotic, and IronBOT, a rebar-placing robotic.

Collectively, the Bot Bundle affords to modernize the development trade, in response to Superior Building Robotics. Crews that work with each TyBOT and IronBOT can maximize their schedule financial savings, it mentioned.

Primarily based in Pittsburgh, Muck mentioned his work with ACR exemplifies his dedication to advancing the development trade by way of technological innovation.

“The chance to assist and develop the robotics cluster in Pittsburgh is extremely difficult,” Muck famous. “I stay up for bringing my power as a board officer to assist drive innovation and collaboration inside this dynamic neighborhood.”

Kevin Dowling expressed his continued dedication to PRN: “Whereas my time period as president has come to an finish, my dedication to this group and its mission stays unwavering since I based the PRN in 2016. I’m very excited to assist Jorgen, Stephen, and the remainder of the board as we proceed to assist and develop the regional robotics trade.”

Because the Pittsburgh Robotics Community introduced its new management, the group mentioned it’s “united in its dedication to innovation, progress, and the event of a sustainable robotics trade.”