Solvus Global, a leader in advanced manufacturing headquartered in Massachusetts, has become the first major company to partner with the Missouri Protoplex at Missouri University of Science and Technology. The company signed a lease Wednesday, April 2, at the Missouri S&T campus to establish an additional facility in Rolla. 

The mission of the Protoplex, which is set to open in spring 2026, is to improve workforce and economic development for the area and the state through advanced manufacturing by providing a variety of resources and skills to manufacturers. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Solvus Global to our community,” says Dr. Richard Billo, director of S&T’s Kummer Institute Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Missouri Protoplex. “Their decision to establish a location here is a testament to the success of our initiatives, and it will create numerous new job opportunities within the industry.” 

Solvus Global is dedicated to solving complex industry challenges by building businesses around sustainable manufacturing solutions. Once their location at the Protoplex is complete, Solvus will work alongside university experts and industry leaders in the shared manufacturing space, facilitating research, development and real-world applications of advanced manufacturing technologies.  

“Dr. Richard Billo and the S&T team have been invaluable partners over the years,” says Dr. Aaron Birt, co-founder and CEO of Solvus Global. “We’re aligned with Chancellor Mo Dehghani's plans for the Kummer Institute having world-class manufacturing research. We see tremendous potential in Rolla, and we’re eager to contribute to its growth as a key manufacturing hub.” 

Solvus Global plans to establish its presence at the Protoplex by onboarding an initial team of five employees and steadily expanding from there. The next phase will focus on identifying optimal manufacturing operations, securing the right facilities and recruiting people to drive growth.  

“It will open more positions. — not just engineers, but technicians,” Billo says. “They've seen the quality of students that we have here.” 

Birt says that additive manufacturing has been a core component of engineering curricula with hundreds of graduates entering the field each year, and that by using the existing workforce and integrating robotics, automation and 3D printing, they can enhance efficiency and competitiveness in the industry. 

“That’s why the synergy between Solvus Global and the Missouri Protoplex is crucial for the ecosystem,” Birt says. 

For more information, visit solvusglobal.com/careers or protoplex.mst.edu.