Everyone at ASK Power is excited to experience the growth and success mHUB has generated since opening in March. In less than 9 months, mHub has tripled its membership to over 300 members.

mHub connects the many segments of manufacturing, entrepreneurs, engineers, small to medium manufacturers, and large companies in the innovation game. It’s an experiment that is working, working to produce better jobs and a more competitive industry.

“The manufacturing industry has certainly experienced its share of change, evolving from what many still envision as ‘traditional’ manufacturing… to today's manufacturing that is digital, high tech and driven by ideas and innovation.

When I think of modern manufacturing right here in Illinois -- I think of mHUB (https://mhubchicago.com/), Chicago's innovation center for physical product development and manufacturing. “   

- Greg Baise, president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association

Read more of what the Daily Herald Business Ledger wrote in their article, “The Evolution of Illinois Manufacturing with mHUB”

As a sponsor of mHUB, ASK Power represents the model for how small and medium sized manufactures in the Chicago area will gain access and expertise to equipment, facilities and workers not readily available before. mHub’s state of the art building provides 63,000 square feet with 10 fabrication centers and over $2,000,000 in product design, rapid proto-typing and 3D printers, metal shops and other low-volume micro-factory machinery.

World trade and political discussion emphasize how automation threatens the traditional manufacturing employee. How to support the evolution of these employees in the face of global competitive challenges is the question. Steve Kase, ASK Power’s Founder and Managing Director, the Illinois Manufacturing Association, and Chicago’s mHub have an answer: expand the skills and roles of the front line manufacturing person to create a valued worker who can evolve with automation and maintain a quality career.

This idea is being put into practice through Chicago’s new manufacturing innovation center, mHUB. Workforce Development and Manufacturing Innovation are the concepts that have made ASK Power the success it is today. “Training our employees to be full service process managers of Efficiency, Quality Control, Tooling Setup and Machine Maintenance,” explains Mr. Kase. “This investment in people has dramatically improved the delivery times and quality performance for our customers.”

The mHUB facility was designed to attract and support STEM trained personnel. These engineers and entrepreneurs in turn will provide innovative application solutions for small and medium-sized manufactures. “When we solve customer product development needs, we require new sets of talent and resources. mHUB is being set-up to help companies like ours,” says Mr. Kase.

Read more about mHUB in this month’s addition of The Illinois Manufacturer

Naumovich, Dan. "mHub is Chicago’s first manufacturing innovation center - opening in January"The Illinois Manufacturer Fall 2016: p23-24. (PDF version)