Organizations and companies in the U.S. industrial base, including academia and startups, have been invited to tap the capabilities of the Advanced Metallic Production and Processing, or AMPP, Center that the Leading Innovations For Tomorrow, or LIFT, program has established in Detroit.
The center can rapidly bring concepts of new materials to prototype, testing and production, Nigel Francis, LIFT’s CEO and executive director, said in the institute’s Monday announcement of the center’s opening. “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 stated.
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DOD-Backed Program With Industry Network
LIFT, a public-private partnership with the Department of Defense technology program under the National Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Institute, established the AMPP Center to serve as a collaboration hub among its close to 400 members and key industry players.
The program’s membership network includes original equipment manufacturers, materials producers and developers, and parts manufacturers. They can rely on the center for metallic production and processing capabilities, such as materials production, accelerating product availability and delivery, and toll processing and contract manufacturing.
Advanced Capabilities in Rapid Materials Development
The center is geared to produce metals across all alloy types and process them into top quality metal powder, wire and rod feedstocks. It offers capabilities to hasten materials development through advanced processes, such as additive manufacturing. With the center’s support, domestic manufacturers can reduce risks and costs of materials development, while also accelerating product availability on the market, according to LINK.
In addition to the AMPP Center, LIFT has opened a satellite unit in Puerto Rico to convene technology partners in advanced materials development and manufacturing. LIFT’s funding support from DOD is managed through the Office of Naval Research.
In May 2023, the manufacturing innovation program secured a new five-year $49.4 million support through a cooperative agreement with ONR, enabling LIFT to join the Manufacturing USA network and showcase its work in materials, manufacturing, systems engineering and material characterization.
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