A ribbon cutting at LIFT’s launch of the Advanced Metallic Production and Processing Center in Detroit. (Image: LIFT)
The new cutting-edge facility, launched by LIFT in Detroit, is expected to play a critical role in strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base.
DETROIT—LIFT, the Department of Defense-supported national advanced materials manufacturing innovation institute, reported in April that it officially opened its state-of-the-art Advanced Metallic Production and Processing (AMPP) Center in Detroit’s historic Corktown district.
The cutting-edge facility is expected to play a critical role in strengthening the U.S. industrial base by accelerating the design, development, and deployment of novel metallic materials, filling a key gap in the nation’s defense manufacturing base, according to a release from LIFT.
“By producing metals across all alloy classes and processing into high-quality metal powder, wire, and rod feedstocks, AMPP will accelerate materials development, including for rapid advancement of additive manufacturing, ensuring manufacturers can access the materials they need to develop next-generation defense and commercial technologies,” the release stated.
Advanced materials are critical across industries. According to LIFT, a recent report from Siemens Digital Industries Software stated that “innovation is key to the survival and growth of all companies.”
“Product and materials innovation are closely linked, with product innovation relying almost 70 percent on materials innovation,” the report is said to have stated. “Therefore, it’s clear that developing new materials, or innovative applications of existing materials, [is] of paramount importance for the manufacturing industry.”
The AMPP’s ability to speed the design and development of new materials is said to de-risk materials development investment for domestic manufacturers and unlock faster time to market, with overall reduced cost of development.
Key capabilities of the AMPP Center are reported to include low- to-medium-volume material production; accelerated material delivery and availability; toll processing and contract manufacturing; and domestic production through a nonprofit public-private partnership.
A national collaboration to drive innovation
The AMPP Center will serve as a hub for collaboration between LIFT’s nearly 400-member network and key industry stakeholders, including OEMs; systems manufacturers; materials producers and developers; application developers and parts manufacturers; and academia and startups.
LIFT’s new Advanced Metallics Production and Processing Center is said to exemplify the mission of the Department of Defense’s Manufacturing Innovation Institutes.
Their mission is, “to close critical advanced manufacturing gaps in the U.S. defense industrial base and ensure we remain the strongest and most lethal force in the world,” according to Keith DeVries, director of manufacturing technology (ManTech) under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.
Advancing American manufacturing and security
LIFT CEO and Executive Director Nigel Francis emphasized the importance of AMPP in maintaining America’s competitive edge.
“The pace of advanced manufacturing innovation is accelerating, and the development of novel materials is crucial to keeping the U.S. ahead of global competitors,” Francis said in a statement. “With AMPP, we can now rapidly move new materials from concept to prototype, feasibility testing, and full-scale production—all within our borders. This capability is a game-changer for both our warfighters and manufacturers across industries.”
“Today’s ribbon cutting marks more than just a milestone for advanced manufacturing— it represents Michigan’s commitment to innovation, workforce development, and national security,” said U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin, in a statement. “I have visited these facilities, so I have seen what they can do. And the Advanced Metallics Production and Processing Center is a great example of how public-private partnerships, like LIFT, can help build the materials, technologies, and talent pipeline that will keep Michigan and our nation, competitive, all while helping to create good jobs.”
“A decade ago, we welcomed LIFT to Detroit to research and develop the next generation of advanced materials for commercial and defense uses,” said Mike Duggan, Mayor, City of Detroit, in the release. “This expansion into the production and processing of these materials demonstrates the success of their work and is a great example of how Detroit is very much a national center for innovation.”