# How AM is Supporting the Grid

- Show: [Additive Snack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack)
- Published: 2026-01-22
- Length: 38m
- Episode: 26
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-01-22-how-am-is-supporting-the-grid
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/5c99836f

## Summary

Kristen Mulherin, Director of Additive Manufacturing Technology at Hubbell Inc., explains how the 150-year-old electrical solutions company established an internal Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence to support grid infrastructure. She details the strategic decision to vertically integrate binder jetting and laser polymer technologies to achieve single-digit dollar part costs and 2-3 week lead times, bypassing expensive contract manufacturers. Mulherin emphasizes the critical role of cross-departmental education, particularly with finance and supply chain teams, to identify 'killer applications' like part consolidation and high-volume production of low-volume components.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-01-22-how-am-is-supporting-the-grid#t=7) Introduction: Kristen Mulherin and Hubbell's AM Center
- [2:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-01-22-how-am-is-supporting-the-grid#t=121) Kristen's Career: Northrop Grumman, HP, and Women in 3D Printing
- [7:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-01-22-how-am-is-supporting-the-grid#t=451) Building Hubbell's Center of Excellence: Strategy and Centralization
- [14:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-01-22-how-am-is-supporting-the-grid#t=840) Technology Stack: Binder Jetting, Laser Polymers, and Cost Drivers
- [21:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-01-22-how-am-is-supporting-the-grid#t=1298) Value Drivers: Lead Time, Part Consolidation, and Reliability
- [24:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-01-22-how-am-is-supporting-the-grid#t=1459) Internal Education: Lunch and Learns for Engineers and Finance
- [25:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-01-22-how-am-is-supporting-the-grid#t=1544) Specific Applications: Part Consolidation and Heating Elements
- [31:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-01-22-how-am-is-supporting-the-grid#t=1914) Advice for Establishing AM Centers: Killer Applications and Stakeholder Buy-in

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Hubbell Inc. (company)
- Northrop Grumman (company)
- HP (company)
- Women in 3D Printing (other)
- Binder Jetting (tool)
- Laser Powder Bed Fusion (tool)
- SAP (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Nano Dimension GM Valentin Storz on EMS@C_Level 2022, episode 18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2022-10-24-nano-dimension-gm-valentin-storz-on-ems-c-level-2022-episode-18) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Star Trek Replicators? How Additive Manufacturing is Changing the Industry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-09-14-star-trek-replicators-how-additive-manufacturing-is-changing-the-industry) (Over the Air)
- [J.A.M.E.S CEO Andreas Müller talks Additive Manufactured Electronics on EMS@C-Level 2022 episode 17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2022-10-09-j-a-m-e-s-ceo-andreas-muller-talks-additive-manufactured-electronics-on-ems-c-le) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [That SCOOPshow - Season 6, Productronica 2021 - Valentin Storz, Nano Dimension](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2021-11-11-that-scoopshow-season-6-productronica-2021-valentin-storz-nano-dimension) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [182: Robotics and Automation in Additive Manufacturing with Liz Stortstrom, 3D Printing Product Manager at HP](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-04-23-182-robotics-and-automation-in-additive-manufacturing-with-liz-stortstrom-3d-pri) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-01-22-how-am-is-supporting-the-grid. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Additive Snack.