ALMMII to open Detroit innovation acceleration center Jan. 15

ALMMII, the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute, will hold a grand opening at its innovation acceleration center at 1400 Rosa Parks Blvd. in Detroit on Jan. 15, 2015, from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. The 100,000-sq.-ft. facility is part of a national network of research institutions and industrial companies geared toward advancing U.S. leadership in manufacturing technology.

The center’s focus is to accelerate the transfer of new manufacturing, including aluminum, magnesium, titanium, and AHSS alloys. The center also will facilitate the training of workers who will be using these new processes in factories and maintenance facilities around the country.

ALMMII is funded by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, with strong support from industry partners and academic research institutions. It is led by industry with input from the government. The lead partners in founding ALMMII are the University of Michigan; The Ohio State University; and EWI, an independent research and development organization based in Columbus, Ohio. ALMMII will serve a five-state region directly, although its work is national in scope.