LIFT Launches Advanced Metallic Production and Processing Center to Strengthen U.S. Manufacturing and National Security!

LIFT, the Department of Defense-supported national advanced materials manufacturing innovation institute, has officially opened its Advanced Metallic Production and Processing (AMPP) Center in Detroit’s historic Corktown district. This cutting-edge facility is set to play a pivotal role in strengthening the U.S. industrial base by advancing the design, development, and deployment of novel metallic materials, addressing a critical gap in the nation’s defense manufacturing capabilities.

The AMPP Center will produce metals across all alloy classes and process them into high-quality metal powders, wires, and rods, enhancing material development for the rapid advancement of additive manufacturing (AM). This will enable manufacturers to access the essential materials required for the creation of next-generation defense and commercial technologies.

The AMPP Center will act as a central hub for collaboration among LIFT’s nearly 400-member network, which includes original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), systems manufacturers, materials producers, application developers, part manufacturers, academic institutions, and startups. This network will collectively work to innovate and accelerate materials production processes that are crucial for future U.S. manufacturing competitiveness and national security.

Keith DeVries, Director of Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD [R&E]), stated, “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.”

The opening of the AMPP Center highlights the importance of rapidly developing novel materials for additive manufacturing and traditional production techniques. Nigel Francis, CEO & Executive Director of LIFT, emphasized the center’s role 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.”

The facility’s focus on metallic materials and their processing will support the Department of Defense’s efforts to ensure that the U.S. remains at the forefront of both defense and commercial manufacturing technologies. It will enable faster development cycles, more sustainable manufacturing, and a direct response to the growing global competition in advanced manufacturing.

Key Benefits of the AMPP Center:

• Rapid advancement of metallic materials for additive manufacturing.
• Support for defense technologies, including 5G, aerospace, satellite, and critical infrastructure systems.
• Streamlined collaboration between industry, academia, and government to tackle supply chain challenges and ensure the U.S. maintains its manufacturing leadership.

LIFT’s AMPP Center is a strategic investment in the future of U.S. manufacturing and national defense, positioned to drive technological advancements that will maintain and enhance the country’s competitive standing in the global manufacturing arena.