Advanced Metallic Production and Processing Center to Launch in Detroit in 2025!

LIFT (Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow), a national advanced materials manufacturing innovation institute supported by the Department of Defense, will introduce its Advanced Metallic Production and Processing Center (AMPP) in Q1 2025. Located at LIFT’s headquarters in Detroit, this state-of-the-art facility aims to address critical gaps in advanced materials challenges across the U.S. industrial base.

The AMPP Center will focus on producing high-quality metal powder, wire, and rod feedstocks across all alloy classes. These materials, curated by LIFT’s team of materials scientists, will support a wide variety of additive manufacturing processes, enabling U.S. manufacturers to accelerate the development and deployment of novel materials and processes.

Nigel Francis, CEO and Executive Director of LIFT, emphasized the center’s significance:
“Today’s advancements in manufacturing require novel materials that bridge the gap between concept, prototype testing, product feasibility, and production. This new capability will efficiently drive the acceleration of new materials and processes to market for both the warfighter and cross-sector manufacturers.”

The AMPP Center aligns with the Department of Defense’s mission to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base. Keith DeVries, director of manufacturing technology under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, highlighted the importance of this facility in bridging manufacturing gaps in advanced materials.

When fully operational in early 2025, the center will provide the following services:

• Low to Medium Material Production Volumes: Supporting scalability for emerging technologies.
• Accelerated Material Delivery and Availability: Ensuring manufacturers have timely access to essential materials.
• Toll Processing and Contract Manufacturing: Offering specialized material processing services.
• Domestic Production: Strengthening the U.S. supply chain by reducing reliance on foreign sources.
• Operation Through a Nonprofit, Public-Private Partnership: Maximizing collaboration and innovation.

The AMPP Center is particularly relevant to additive manufacturing, where advancements in material science play a crucial role in bridging the gap between innovation and practical application. By producing and processing a variety of feedstocks, the center will empower manufacturers to innovate faster and more effectively.

The establishment of the AMPP Center underscores LIFT’s commitment to supporting U.S. manufacturers, accelerating the adoption of advanced materials, and driving innovation in defense and cross-sector industries. This Detroit-based facility is set to become a cornerstone of the nation’s advanced manufacturing capabilities.