COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 1, 2025 – The Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL) program is proud to announce a new partnership with the U.S. National Science Foundation Hybrid Autonomous Manufacturing – Moving from Evolution to Revolution Engineering Research Center (HAMMER-ERC) at The Ohio State University. This collaboration will advance cutting-edge training and curriculum in forging technologies as part of a national effort to strengthen and diversify the U.S. metal manufacturing workforce.
Led by IACMI – The Composites Institute® and funded by the Department of Defense’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program, METAL equips learners at all stages with the knowledge and skills needed in critical areas like casting, forging, and plate rolling. NSF HAMMER-ERC will now serve as a key METAL hub, focusing specifically on the development and delivery of high-impact forging curriculum for technicians, engineers, and instructors across the country.
“At HAMMER-ERC, we are driving the evolution of manufacturing by integrating digital tools and forging science to meet the needs of today’s defense and commercial sectors,” said Glenn Daehn, program director for HAMMER-ERC. “Partnering with METAL allows us to scale this mission and deliver training that is as advanced and dynamic as the industry itself.”
HAMMER-ERC joins a growing network of METAL partners, including Ohio State University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Where Ohio State’s foundry will serve as METAL’s hub for hands-on casting training, HAMMER-ERC will focus on forging. The forging curriculum will include a comprehensive suite of online training modules covering:
- Industry 4.0 applications in forging, including sensors, automation, robotics, and cloud-based decision-making
- Forging fundamentals and advanced metals manufacturing
- Digital simulation techniques to bring real-world scenarios into virtual learning environments.
In addition to technical education, HAMMER-ERC will launch a “Master Instructor” credential—a train-the-trainer model designed to empower educators to teach advanced forging content at regional training centers, community colleges, and universities nationwide.
“The forging industry is rapidly transforming, and we need a workforce that’s ready to lead,” said Lucinda Curry, METAL National Workforce Manager at IACMI. “HAMMER-ERC’s leadership in simulation, data integration, and industry-relevant curriculum makes them a perfect METAL partner.”
As a METAL hub, HAMMER-ERC will also engage in industry testing and feedback loops to ensure the curriculum remains practical and forward-looking. Through collaborations with educational institutions and workforce training centers, the HAMMER-ERC team will help build a strong, sustainable pipeline of forging professionals equipped to meet modern manufacturing challenges.