LIFT, a Department of Defense-supported national advanced materials manufacturing innovation institute, has opened the Advanced Metallic Production and Processing (AMPP) Center in Detroit’s Corktown district. This facility will enhance the U.S. industrial base by accelerating the design, development, and deployment of novel metallic materials, addressing a critical gap in defense manufacturing. By producing metals across all alloy classes and processing them into high-quality feedstocks, AMPP will expedite materials development, particularly for additive manufacturing, ensuring manufacturers have access to essential materials for next-generation defense and commercial technologies.
Advanced materials are critical across industries. According to a recent report from Siemens Digital Industries Software, ”Innovation is key to the survival and growth of all companies. Product and materials innovation are closely linked, with product innovation relying on materials innovation by almost 70 percent. Therefore, it’s clear that developing new materials or innovative applications of existing materials are of paramount importance for the manufacturing industry.”
This capability de-risks materials development investment for our domestic manufacturers and unlocks faster time to market and overall reduced cost of development.
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:
– Original Equipment Manufacturers
– Systems Manufacturers
– Materials Producers & Developers
– Application Developers & Part Manufacturers
– Academia & Startups
LIFT’s new Advanced Metallics Production and Processing Center exemplifies the mission of the Department of Defense’s Manufacturing Innovation Institutes: 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,” said Keith DeVries, Director of Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)).
Advancing American Manufacturing & Security
Nigel Francis, CEO & Executive Director of LIFT, 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. 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.”
“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. “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.”
Key Capabilities of the AMPP Center
– Low to Medium Volume Material Production
– Accelerated Material Delivery & Availability
– Toll Processing & Contract Manufacturing
– Domestic Production Through a Nonprofit Public-Private Partnership
Bringing Next-Generation Materials to Market and Scaling-Up Additive Manufacturing
As LIFT celebrates its 11th year as a national manufacturing innovation institute, it continues to expand its impact and technologies across the country, recently opening a facility in Puerto Rico and exploring new expansion opportunities.
For more information: LIFT
