Check out this episode of Industrial Talk featuring Josh Brown and Steven Fedell with Penn State University METAL Program.
Industrial Talk is onsite at Penn State and talking to Josh Brown and Steven Fedell with Penn State University METAL Program about “Why they are passionate about the future”..
GOLDEN, Colo. (September 23, 2026) – The Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL) program, led by IACMI – The Composites Institute®, is proud to announce a new partnership with Colorado School of Mines (Mines) to enhance and scale up industry-driven training opportunities for current and prospective metalworking and manufacturing professionals. Supported through funding by the Department of War’s (DoW) Office of Industrial Base Policy, METAL strengthens and diversifies the U.S. metal manufacturing workforce, focusing on casting and forging.
Mines will develop and implement a Mobile Training Unit, a transportable STEM learning environment suitable for educational use, offering in-person sessions that consist of hands-on activities and programs, career exploration demonstrations, and educator engagement sessions. The program will support integrated STEM instruction, aiming to spark interest in metallurgical and advanced manufacturing careers. Activities include educational experiences related to casting, forging, machining, materials science, and manufacturing design challenges.
“We are thrilled to announce METAL’s partnership with Colorado School of Mines,” said Mike Kubacki, METAL Program Director at IACMI. “Mines’ Mobile Training Unit gives us an opportunity to bring hands-on manufacturing education directly to students and introduce them to career pathways they may not otherwise encounter. By engaging students early with casting, forging, and other advanced manufacturing technologies, we can help build awareness and interest in the skills and careers that will be essential to the future of American manufacturing.”
Mines’ partnership with METAL includes plans to:
“We have been amazed by the level of interest generated by the Mobile METAL Manufacturing (MMM) training 18-wheeler. Industry partners and educational institutions alike immediately recognize the value of bringing advanced, hands-on manufacturing training directly to their locations. METAL has created an innovative and highly relevant model for workforce development, and we are proud to partner in this effort. Through the MMM, Colorado School of Mines will share its expertise in metallurgical engineering and manufacturing with learners, educators, and companies throughout the Western United States and beyond,” said Professor Terry Lowe, METAL Project Lead at Colorado School of Mines.
A few months ago, IACMI announced plans to expand METAL and America’s Cutting Edge (ACE), another workforce development program focused on machining and manufacturing, to 53 new locations at universities, colleges and trade schools by 2030, bringing the total number of sites to more than 100. Additionally, IACMI will introduce new initiatives to engage over 50,000 K-12 students and provide hundreds of internship opportunities.
Colorado School of Mines’ addition to the METAL network strengthens a growing national network of contracted METAL sites across 13 states. Together, these institutions are revitalizing American manufacturing by delivering responsive, scalable and sustainable workforce development programs.
For more information about METAL at Colorado School of Mines, please contact:
Sarah Pope
Email: Sarah@piper-communications.com
Phone: 865-329-0553
Erich Kirshner
Email: erich.kirshner@mines.edu
Phone: 303-921-6733
About METAL
Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL), led by IACMI, is an industry-driven initiative aimed at providing high-quality, hands-on training in the metalworking and manufacturing sectors. The program is designed to address workforce development needs by offering comprehensive curricula in casting, forging and metallurgy, with an emphasis on automation and modern manufacturing technologies.
About IACMI
IACMI – The Composites Institute® is a national public-private partnership focused on advancing composite materials and process technologies. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of War, IACMI brings together over 190 members from industry, academia, and government to drive manufacturing innovation and workforce development.
About Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering, producing the talent, knowledge and innovations to serve industry and benefit society – all to create a more prosperous future.
Check out this episode of Manufacturing Unscripted featuring Mike Kubacki and Elliot Keas with IACMI–The Composites Institute.
Peter Parsons wraps up his two-part conversation with Mike Kubacki and Elliot Keas of IACMI, digging into the perception problem manufacturing still faces with parents and students alike. Elliot and Mike talk through why so many people still picture manufacturing as dangerous and dirty, and how technology and innovation have reshaped what these environments actually look like today. The conversation also covers the different tiers of skill development in a modern facility, why apprenticeships matter for knowledge transfer, and how IACMI is partnering with veterans groups and job boards to connect people directly with industry. Mike and Elliot close things out by sharing their 10-year vision for the program, from expanding westward to building industry confidence in US manufacturing for the long term.
KINGSVILLE, Texas (September 8, 2026) – The Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL) program, led by IACMI – The Composites Institute®, is proud to announce a new partnership with Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) to enhance and scale up industry-driven training opportunities for current and prospective metalworking and manufacturing professionals. Supported through funding by the Department of War’s (DoW) Office of Industrial Base Policy, METAL strengthens and diversifies the U.S. metal manufacturing workforce, focusing on casting and forging.
TAMUK will implement METAL’s nationally recognized curriculum in its program, beginning with a combination of online training and immersive in-person bootcamps held at a manufacturing lab, equipped for metal melting, heat treatment and machining capabilities.
“METAL gives us a powerful platform to expand advanced manufacturing training in South Texas,” said Jeff West, Chief Workforce Development Officer at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. “This partnership will help prepare more individuals with the skills and credentials needed by today’s manufacturing employers.”
In addition to adult training, these programs will lead outreach efforts for K–12 students by offering workshops and partnering with high schools and other local and regional schools to spark early interest in metallurgical careers.
“Texas A&M-Kingsville is an outstanding partner for the METAL program because of its deep expertise in engineering and advanced manufacturing, strong connections to industry, and commitment to hands-on workforce development,” said Mike Kubacki, METAL Program Director at IACMI. “By bringing those capabilities together through METAL, we can give students and workers the practical skills and real-world experience they need to build rewarding careers in metalworking while helping strengthen the talent pipeline that is so critical to the U.S. manufacturing and defense industrial base.”
Upon completing online and in-person bootcamp training, participants may enter a stacked curriculum offering a menu of specialized training opportunities within METAL, allowing participants to tailor their learning experience, including an enhanced focus on automation in the casting and forging industry.
“The partnership with METAL strengthens Texas A&M-Kingsville’s commitment to providing accessible, industry-responsive engineering education and workforce development opportunities throughout South Texas and beyond,” said Dr. Heidi A. Taboada, Dean of the Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. “By combining TAMUK’s engineering expertise and hands-on learning environment with METAL’s nationally recognized workforce training, we can create stronger pathways from education to employment while supporting the manufacturing capabilities that are essential to our nation’s economic and industrial security.”
TAMUK’s partnership with METAL includes plans to:
Earlier this summer, IACMI announced plans to expand METAL and America’s Cutting Edge (ACE), another workforce development program focused on machining and manufacturing, to 53 new locations at universities, colleges and trade schools by 2030, bringing the total number of sites to more than 100. Additionally, IACMI will introduce new initiatives to engage over 50,000 K-12 students and provide hundreds of internship opportunities.
Texas A&M-Kingsville’s addition to the METAL network strengthens a growing national network of 18 contracted METAL sites across 13 states. Together, these institutions are revitalizing American manufacturing by delivering responsive, scalable and sustainable workforce development programs.
For more information about METAL at TAMUK, please contact:
Sarah Pope
Email: Sarah@piper-communications.com
Phone: 865-329-0553
Mark Molina
Email: Mark.Molina@tamuk.edu
Phone: 361-593-4532
About METAL
Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL), led by IACMI, is an industry-driven initiative aimed at providing high-quality, hands-on training in the metalworking and manufacturing sectors. The program is designed to address workforce development needs by offering comprehensive curricula in casting, forging and metallurgy, with an emphasis on automation and modern manufacturing technologies.
About IACMI
IACMI – The Composites Institute® is a national public-private partnership focused on advancing composite materials and process technologies. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of War, IACMI brings together over 190 members from industry, academia, and government to drive manufacturing innovation and workforce development.
About Texas A&M University-Kingsville
The first institution of higher learning in South Texas, Texas A&M University-Kingsville advances the region through academic excellence, student success, innovative research, workforce development, and strong community impact. The university offers nationally recognized academic programs in engineering, animal and wildlife sciences, education, kinesiology, social work, business, and music. Home to renowned research centers including the National Natural Toxins Research Center, the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, the Citrus Center, and the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management, Texas A&M-Kingsville is a Carnegie Classified Doctoral University with High Research Activity. Nationally recognized for advancing social mobility and student opportunities, Texas A&M University-Kingsville prepares graduates to lead and succeed in our region and beyond. To learn more, visit www.tamuk.edu.
Check out this episode of Industrial Talk featuring Andy Bomberger with METAL and Bomberger Industry Graphics.
Industrial Talk is onsite at Penn State and talking to Andy Bomberger with Penn State University METAL Program about “Hands on manufacturing and foundry experience”.
The Industrial Talk podcast episode with Andy Bomberger describes nearly 29 years in foundry engineering, including work with steel, ceramics, polymers, machining, casting, and roughly 150–200 alloys.
HOMESTEAD, Pa. (September 3, 2026) – The Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL) program, led by IACMI – The Composites Institute®, is proud to announce a new partnership with Rivers of Steel to enhance and scale up industry-driven training opportunities for current and prospective metalworking and manufacturing professionals. Supported through funding by the Department of War’s (DoW) Office of Industrial Base Policy, METAL strengthens and diversifies the U.S. metal manufacturing workforce, focusing on casting and forging.
Drawing on its stewardship of the Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark and decades of industrial education programming, Rivers of Steel will use the partnership to connect Pittsburgh’s industrial history and innovation to current workforce development opportunities in new ways.
Rivers of Steel will implement METAL’s nationally recognized curriculum, beginning with a combination of online training and immersive in-person bootcamps held at the historic Carrie Blast Furnaces in Pittsburgh’s Mon Valley, equipped for metal melting and forging, heat treatment, and machining capabilities.
Building on decades of connecting communities with the region’s industrial heritage, Rivers of Steel will give greater visibility to this new workforce development initiative that combines nationally recognized manufacturing curriculum with immersive, hands-on learning experiences designed to prepare participants for careers in today’s metalworking and manufacturing industries.
In addition to adult training, Rivers of Steel will also develop and implement a K-12 Mobile Training Unit, a transportable mobile learning environment suitable for K-12 educational use, offering in-person sessions of hands-on activities and programs, career exploration demonstrations, and educator engagement sessions. The program will support integrated STEM instruction, to spark early interest in metallurgical and advanced manufacturing careers. Activities include age-appropriate educational experiences related to casting, forging, machining, materials science, advanced and additive manufacturing, automation and robotics, CAD/CAM technologies and manufacturing design challenges.
“Rivers of Steel is truly an exciting addition to the METAL program,” said Mike Kubacki, METAL Program Director at IACMI. “The K-12 Mobile Training Unit planned for this partnership will emphasize experiential learning, introducing young students to career pathways in advanced manufacturing. The unit will operate at a variety of host locations, from schools to community events and will incorporate teamwork, problem solving and creative thinking. It is truly a unique offering to the regional community.”
For adult training, upon completing online and in-person bootcamp training with Rivers of Steel, participants may enter a stacked curriculum offering a menu of specialized training opportunities within METAL, allowing participants to tailor their learning experience, including an enhanced focus on automation in the casting and forging industry.
“Rivers of Steel has helped people understand how manufacturing shaped this region for decades,” said Chris McGinnis, Vice President Programs and Development at Rivers of Steel. “Through our partnership with METAL, we’re expanding the critical message that manufacturing is actively shaping futures today. By connecting students, job seekers, educators and employers through hands-on learning and career pathways, we’re investing in the next generation of skilled workers while strengthening the industries that continue to drive the economy of southwestern Pennsylvania.”
River of Steel’s partnership with METAL includes plans to:
Earlier this summer, IACMI announced plans to expand METAL and America’s Cutting Edge (ACE), another workforce development program focused on machining and manufacturing, to 53 new locations at universities, colleges and trade schools by 2030, bringing the total number of sites to more than 100. Additionally, IACMI will introduce new initiatives to engage over 50,000 K-12 students and provide hundreds of internship opportunities.
Rivers of Steel’s addition to the METAL network strengthens a growing national network of 18 contracted METAL sites across 13 states. Together, these institutions are revitalizing American manufacturing by delivering responsive, scalable and sustainable workforce development programs.
For more information about METAL at Rivers of Steel, please contact:
Sarah Pope
Email: Sarah@piper-communications.com
Phone: 865-329-0553
About METAL
Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL), led by IACMI, is an industry-driven initiative aimed at providing high-quality, hands-on training in the metalworking and manufacturing sectors. The program is designed to address workforce development needs by offering comprehensive curricula in casting, forging and metallurgy, with an emphasis on automation and modern manufacturing technologies.
About IACMI
IACMI – The Composites Institute® is a national public-private partnership focused on advancing composite materials and process technologies. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of War, IACMI brings together over 190 members from industry, academia, and government to drive manufacturing innovation and workforce development.
About Rivers of Steel
Rivers of Steel is a collection of four experiential museums and national historic landmarks that celebrate the global impact of Pittsburgh’s steel industry. Since its designation as a National Heritage Area, Rivers of Steel has contributed to the revitalization of Pittsburgh by championing the region’s steel heritage, natural and shared resources, and culture of innovation and hard work. Founded on principles of heritage development and community partnership, Rivers of Steel supports economic revitalization through tourism, education, workforce development in traditional trades, metal arts, and outdoor experiences across the Monongahela River Valley and eight counties in western Pennsylvania.
STARKVILLE, Miss. (September 1, 2026) – The Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL) program, led by IACMI – The Composites Institute®, is proud to announce a new partnership with Mississippi State University (MSU) to enhance and scale up industry-driven training opportunities for current and prospective metalworking and manufacturing professionals. Supported through funding by the Department of War’s (DoW) Office of Industrial Base Policy, METAL strengthens and diversifies the U.S. metal manufacturing workforce, focusing on casting and forging.
Mississippi State University will implement METAL’s nationally recognized curriculum in its program, beginning with a combination of online training and immersive in-person bootcamps held at a manufacturing lab, equipped for metal melting, heat treatment and machining capabilities.
In addition to adult training, MSU will also develop and implement a K-12 Mobile Training Unit, a transportable STEM learning environment suitable for K-12 educational use, offering in-person sessions that consist of hands-on activities and programs, career exploration demonstrations, and educator engagement sessions. The program will support integrated STEM instruction, aiming to spark early interest in metallurgical and advanced manufacturing careers. Activities include age-appropriate educational experiences related to casting, forging, machining, materials science, advanced and additive manufacturing, automation and robotics, CAD/CAM technologies and manufacturing design challenges.
The METAL/MSU partnership is not the first of its kind; MSU partnered with IACMI in 2024 to become a hub for America’s Cutting Edge, another workforce development program focused on machining and manufacturing. To date, ACE has served 676 participants through its partnership with MSU.
“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Mississippi State University through the addition of the METAL program,” said Mike Kubacki, METAL Program Director at IACMI. “Mississippi State has already demonstrated its value as a trusted partner through our ACE program, and we look forward to building on that success with METAL. Partnerships with educational institutions play a vital role in increasing awareness of advanced manufacturing technologies and the rewarding career opportunities they offer. By connecting participants with internships, apprenticeships, and hands-on learning experiences, these collaborations help prepare a skilled workforce and open pathways to high-paying, in-demand careers.”
For adult training, upon completing online and in-person bootcamp training with MSU, participants may enter a stacked curriculum offering a menu of specialized training opportunities within METAL, allowing participants to tailor their learning experience, including an enhanced focus on automation in the casting and forging industry.
“We are extremely excited to expand Mississippi State’s partnership with IACMI through the METAL program and continue building a comprehensive advanced manufacturing workforce pipeline for Mississippi and the nation,” said Ross Smith, director of Mississippi State University’s Innovation Design & Engineering Educational Laboratory (IDEELab). “Through the IDEELab, our goal is to connect education directly with the needs of industry, introducing students to manufacturing at an early age, providing university students and incumbent workers with hands-on technical training, and creating clear pathways into high-demand manufacturing careers. METAL will allow us to expand that model into casting, forging and metallurgy while giving Mississippi manufacturers access to a stronger, more highly skilled workforce prepared for the technologies shaping the future of American manufacturing. METAL also gives us an exciting opportunity to extend that pipeline into K-12 education through the development of a mobile training unit that will take hands-on manufacturing and STEM experiences directly to students across Mississippi, helping spark interest in these careers at an early age and build the next generation of our manufacturing workforce.”
MSU’s partnership with METAL includes plans to:
Earlier this summer, IACMI announced plans to expand METAL and America’s Cutting Edge (ACE), another workforce development program focused on machining and manufacturing, to 53 new locations at universities, colleges and trade schools by 2030, bringing the total number of sites to more than 100. Additionally, IACMI will introduce new initiatives to engage over 50,000 K-12 students and provide hundreds of internship opportunities.
Mississippi State University’s addition to the METAL network strengthens a growing national network of METAL hubs, including the University of Alabama at Birmingham, The Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee Tech, Michigan Technological University, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, NC State, Purdue University, Georgia Southern University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Northern Iowa, Cleveland State University and Texas State University. Together, these institutions are revitalizing American manufacturing by delivering responsive, scalable and sustainable workforce development programs.
For more information about METAL at Mississippi State University, please contact:
Sarah Pope
Email: Sarah@piper-communications.com
Phone: 865-329-0553
About METAL
Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL), led by IACMI, is an industry-driven initiative aimed at providing high-quality, hands-on training in the metalworking and manufacturing sectors. The program is designed to address workforce development needs by offering comprehensive curricula in casting, forging and metallurgy, with an emphasis on automation and modern manufacturing technologies.
About IACMI
IACMI – The Composites Institute® is a national public-private partnership focused on advancing composite materials and process technologies. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of War, IACMI brings together over 170 members from industry, academia, and government to drive manufacturing innovation and workforce development.
About Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University’s James Worth Bagley College of Engineering is committed to advancing engineering education, research, innovation and workforce development to meet the needs of Mississippi and the nation. Within the Bagley College, the Innovation Design & Engineering Educational Laboratory (IDEELab) serves as a hands-on advanced manufacturing, design and workforce development environment connecting students, faculty and industry. Through state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies, industry-driven training programs, experiential learning and partnerships with regional and national employers, IDEELab prepares students and incumbent workers with the technical skills needed for careers in modern manufacturing. The laboratory also serves as a hub for workforce initiatives spanning machining, advanced manufacturing, composites and metalworking, helping strengthen Mississippi’s manufacturing talent pipeline while supporting the competitiveness of U.S. industry.
