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America’s first public university Super Fab Lab

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During COVID-19, Associate Teaching Professor Terence Fagan demonstrated the power of "democratized innovation" by producing clear face masks for medical workers. This sparked his interest in the Fab Foundation’s Super Fab Labs. While standard Fab Labs focus on small-scale prototyping, SFLs provide expanded capabilities for industrial R&D and "concept-to-production" workflows. At the time, only five existed globally. Following years of strategic planning with Rob Keynton, dean of the William States Lee College of Engineering, Fagan’s vision for a Charlotte SFL materialized. Keynton secured funding via Engineering North Carolina’s Future, a 2022 General Assembly initiative. Fagan enhanced the SFL model by integrating a specialty focus on advanced manufacturing, effectively bridging the gap between initial prototyping and full-scale production.

Categories: College Administration
Tags: General News

The technical heart of Charlotte

UNC Charlotte is the nation’s first public university with a Super Fab Lab, making a powerful impact on the city of Charlotte and its industries.
Now a Fab City, Charlotte aims to achieve a circular economy by 2054 through partnering with the Charlotte SFL.
Charlotte has one of only six SFL’s in the world, each with the technical capacity to produce digital fabrication equipment.
The only SFL with an emphasis on engineering and manufacturing, Charlotte now offers the first resource for the manufacturing industry to facilitate concept-to-production in one shop.

The idea and the visionary

During COVID-19, Associate Teaching Professor Terence Fagan demonstrated the power of “democratized innovation” by producing clear face masks for medical workers. This sparked his interest in the Fab Foundation’s Super Fab Labs. While standard Fab Labs focus on small-scale prototyping, SFLs provide expanded capabilities for industrial R&D and “concept-to-production” workflows. At the time, only five existed globally.

Following years of strategic planning with Rob Keynton, dean of the William States Lee College of Engineering, Fagan’s vision for a Charlotte SFL materialized. Keynton secured funding via Engineering North Carolina’s Future, a 2022 General Assembly initiative. Fagan enhanced the SFL model by integrating a specialty focus on advanced manufacturing, effectively bridging the gap between initial prototyping and full-scale production.

Officially launched in Spring 2025, the Super Fab Lab is led by the W.S. Lee College of Engineering with support from the College of Computing and Informatics, marking a milestone in regional industrial innovation.

Portrait of Terence Fagan standing near a computer monitor and equipment in the Super Fab Lab
We’re helping change the shape of manufacturing.
Terence Fagan
Director of the Charlotte Super Fab Lab

The Difference is Charlotte.

INTERNATIONAL ADVANTAGE

UNC Charlotte’s Super Fab Lab is one of only six worldwide.

INDUSTRY FOCUSED

The world’s only SFL with an emphasis on manufacturing is the first resource to facilitate concept-to-production in one shop for the manufacturing industry.

CITY ALIGNED

In 2025, the SFL became a driving partner with the city of Charlotte when it was named the nation’s fifth Fab City.

Tools, talent and tech

Stocked with advanced machinery and minds, the SFL serves as a vital resource for Charlotte’s manufacturing community. It offers local industry the creativity, prototyping and low-volume production needed to innovate, without the overhead of maintaining private labs. Ultimately, the SFL ensures the next-generation workforce is prepared for real-world industrial challenges.

For example, mechanical engineering student Brett Wilson recently used industry-grade Haas CNC mills to transform a digital concept into a custom aluminum mold. This process required mastering advanced CAD/CAM software, toolpath planning and prototyping, skills he applied to create a part destined for actual local production.

$1.5 million investment
SFL is funded by W.S. Lee College of Engineering via Engineering North Carolina’s Future to drive regional economic growth. By contrast, standard Fab Labs require an investment of approximately $100,000.
Engineering North Carolin's Future
Digitally connected
Students access the global digital network of over 2,000 Fab Labs worldwide.
11x
Charlotte SFL is 11 times more densely equipped than a standard Fab Lab, providing the ability to turn ambitious concepts into repeatable, scalable outcomes.
Machine Shop: Dedicated space with equipment for high-precision machining and fabrication
30,000 PSI Water Jet: Precision cutting for steel, stone and composite materials
Carbon Fiber 3D Printing: Advanced additive manufacturing for aerospace and medical-grade parts
Haas Desktop Mills: Industry-standard subtractive manufacturing for high-tolerance metal blocks
Zünd Digital Cutter: High-speed, automated cutting for textiles, graphics and packaging

    Training for tomorrow’s democratized manufacturing landscape

    The SFL is not just building parts, prototypes and processes; it is helping evolve manufacturing. By fostering a culture of distributed, democratized innovation, students and faculty are supporting local entrepreneurs and established manufacturers with the tools and talent to bring their ideas to life. Through the combined force of visionaries, champions and dedicated students, UNC Charlotte is ensuring that the future of manufacturing is being developed in Charlotte, NC.

    Charlotte’s manufacturers are invited to learn more about partnership opportunities with the Charlotte SFL.

    Learn more about the Charlotte SFL and its people