LIFT opens Advanced Metallic Production Center to strengthen US manufacturing
June 25, 2025
LIFT, a US Department of Defence-supported national advanced materials manufacturing innovation institute based in Detroit, Michigan, has officially opened its state-of-the-art Advanced Metallic Production and Processing (AMPP) Center in Detroit’s historic Corktown district. This facility is expected to play a critical role in strengthening the US industrial base by accelerating the design, development, and deployment of novel metallic materials, filling a key gap in the nation’s defence manufacturing base.
By producing metals across all alloy classes and processing into high-quality metal powder, wire, and rod feedstocks, AMPP will accelerate materials development, including for rapid advancement of Additive Manufacturing, ensuring manufacturers have access to the materials they need to develop next-generation defence and commercial technologies.
“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)).
The AMPP Center will serve as a hub for collaboration between LIFT’s nearly 400-member network and key industry stakeholders, including OEMs, systems manufacturers, materials producers and developers, part manufacturers, academia and startups.
Nigel Francis, CEO & Executive Director of LIFT, stated, “The pace of advanced manufacturing innovation is accelerating, and the development of novel materials is crucial to keeping the US 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.”
Key capabilities of the AMPP Center include low to medium volume material production, accelerated material delivery and availability, toll processing and contract manufacturing. It will provide domestic production through a nonprofit public-private partnership.
Mike Duggan, Mayor, City of Detroit, shared, “A decade ago, we welcomed LIFT to Detroit to research and develop the next generation of advanced materials for commercial and defense uses. 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.”
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.
