Fast Facts

Established
February 2014
Website www.lift.technology
Mission Driving American advanced manufacturing into the future through technology and talent development by connecting advanced materials, manufacturing processes, systems engineering, and people
Headquarters Detroit, MI
Consortium Organizer American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute (ALMMII)
Institute Metrics
 as of September 2025
 
216  
195  		 Member Organizations
Education & Workforce Partners
Total Ongoing and Completed Projects
148    Technology Projects
58    Education and Workforce Development (EWD) Projects
Education and Workforce Development
35,000+    Participants in EWD Projects or Institute-led EWD Activities from FY20-FY25
Additional Info
Institute Snapshot
LIFT is an accelerator connecting advanced materials, manufacturing processes, systems engineering and talent development enhancing America’s manufacturing competitiveness, national economy and security.

 
Institute Capabilities
Success Story Examples
  • LIFT developed a new alloy and manufacturing modeling process that enables thin-walled ductile iron castings for lightweight automotive transmission casings, reducing casing weight by ~ 40%.
     
  • Launched in 2025, LIFT’s Advanced Metallic Production and Processing facility provides metal additive precursors, enabling industry to source new alloy formulations at scale (tens of tons). With the Defense Logistics Agency, LIFT uses the facility to reclaim titanium by processing scraps into optimized wire and powder for additive manufacturing.
     
  • LIFT's workforce development programs operate in 31 states and have trained over 37,000 high school students and 1,000 adult technicians (including separating service members), adding skilled workers to the U.S. defense manufacturing base.
     
  • Partnering with an aircraft manufacturer, LIFT developed and validated a refill friction stir spot welding process for joining dissimilar aluminum sheets on the Apache helicopter, replacing rivets with welds over 2x as strong and at a lower cost.
     
  • LIFT collaborated with Ricardo Defense to develop Humvee Antilock Brake and Electronic Stability Control systems projected to prevent 74% of rollovers and save 125 lives over the next decade. The Army contracted with Ricardo to provide 9,480+ retrofits.