Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center Granted $1.2M for Lightweight Metal R&D

2223

The Plymouth Township-based Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center has been awarded a $1.2 million federal grant over two years from the National Institute of Standards and Technology manufacturing extension partnership program to pilot an accelerated applied research and development program for the manufacturing of lightweight metals.

“Both market demand and regulatory rules favor more use of lightweight materials, particularly in the transportation sector,” says Michael Coast, president of MMTC. “This grant affords the Center with a valuable opportunity to propel lightweighting innovation.”

The goal of the project is to establish collaborations among small U.S. manufacturers, the Manufacturing USA Institutes, and Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers. The Center will partner with Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow, a Detroit-based public private partnership committed to the development and use of advanced lightweight metal manufacturing technologies, education, and training initiatives.

Specifically, The Center and LIFT will focus on developing innovative approaches for delivering new lightweight technology to small U.S. manufacturers, creating protocols for engaging small manufacturers in the national network, building and testing business models for better serving the needs of small manufacturers, and fostering an enhanced nationwide network of partnerships between the institutes and MEP centers.

“Our partnership with LIFT will positively impact manufacturing on a global scale and further strengthen our expertise across the manufacturing landscape,” adds Coast. “We also are pleased to be a conduit to other MEP centers who have clients that need access to this lightweight knowledge.”

For the past 25 years, MMTC has been offering personalized consulting services to help Michigan manufacturers work smarter, compete, and prosper. It’s affiliated with the NIST and Michigan Economic Development Corp., which together share a common goal of driving Michigan’s GDP and creating new employment opportunities.