LIFT launches Detroit-based Advanced Metallic Production and Processing Center
April 14, 2025
LIFT – the national advanced materials manufacturing innovation institute supported by the US Department of Defense – has officially opened its Advanced Metallic Production and Processing (AMPP) Center in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Producing metals across all alloy classes and processing them into metal powder, wire, and rod feedstocks, the AMPP aims to fill a gap in the US defence manufacturing base by accelerating the design, development and deployment of these materials for advanced technologies like Additive Manufacturing.
Advanced materials are critical across industries. According to a recent report by 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 almost 70% on materials innovation. Therefore, it’s clear that developing new materials or innovative applications of existing materials are of paramount importance for the manufacturing industry.”
AMPP expects its materials development capability to de-risk the investment for US domestic manufacturers, reducing time to market and development costs. To achieve this, the new centre will focus on low-to-medium-volume material production, toll processing, and contract manufacturing alongside collaborative domestic production and accelerated material delivery timelines.
A National Collaboration to Drive Innovation
The AMPP Center is intended to serve as a hub for collaboration between LIFT’s nearly 400-member network and key industry stakeholders.
“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 US defence 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
“The pace of advanced manufacturing innovation is accelerating, and the development of novel materials is crucial to keeping the US ahead of global competitors,” stated Nigel Francis, CEO & Executive Director of LIFT. “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.”
Now in its eleventh year as a national manufacturing innovation institute, LIFT continues to expand its impact and technologies across the country and its territories, including the recent addition of a facility in Puerto Rico. The organisation is also said to be exploring further expansion opportunities.
