The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Oklahoma have agreed to establish a metal additive manufacturing center in Norman, Oklahoma.
Once operational, the center will develop new manufacturing technologies to meet U.S. aerospace and defense requirements, ORNL said Tuesday. Under the partnership, the DOE lab and OU’s Oklahoma Aerospace and Defense Innovation Institute will advance research, training and workforce development in metal additive and hybrid manufacturing, machining and data analytics.
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Innovation Ecosystem
The collaborative effort will combine ORNL’s advanced manufacturing expertise with OU’s academic and research foundation to create “a dynamic ecosystem for innovation,” according to Craig Blue, ORNL’s chief manufacturing officer and director of Defense Manufacturing Programs. “This collaboration is not only about advancing technology—it’s about accelerating the transition of breakthrough solutions into real-world defense applications where speed, precision, and readiness matter most,” he added.
“Our deliberate push to advance additive manufacturing research is fueling innovation and economic prosperity in Oklahoma and reducing risk to our nation’s defense,” noted OADII Executive Director Robin Rand.
Air Force Center Support
ORNL and OU will provide the tools and talents that would enable the manufacturing center to drive innovation. The ORNL-OU center is expected to support sustainment and mission readiness at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma and other critical centers, including the Air Force Sustainment Center and the Air Force Research Laboratory.
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