BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, May 21, 2025 – The Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL) program is proud to announce a new partnership with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to enhance and scale up industry-driven training opportunities for current and prospective metalworking and manufacturing professionals. Led by IACMI – The Composites Institute® with funding from the Department of Defense’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program, METAL strengthens and diversifies the U.S. metal manufacturing workforce, focusing on casting, forging and plate rolling.
“METAL’s partnership with UAB will increase workforce skills in skilled trades from the technician through engineering levels, providing a pipeline of personnel excited about the casting and forging industries,” said Lucinda Curry, METAL National Workforce Manager at IACMI. “By working together, we will increase capacity in the United States to meet both the needs of the commercial and national defense supply chains.”
The METAL program at UAB will offer both foundational and specialized training in metalworking and manufacturing, focusing on automation, casting, forging, and rolling techniques critical to the industry’s future. The UAB METAL hub will also teach principles in the metallurgical fields, such as heat treatment of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys. Participants will be doing a series of hands-on activities, including CAD design and 3D printing of patterns, casting, material testing, and machining.
Through a combination of online and hands-on training, including comprehensive in-person boot camps, UAB will provide hands-on experience and essential technical skills in metal melting, heat treatment and machining for individuals seeking to enter or advance in the manufacturing sector.
“We are excited to play a key role in shaping the future of manufacturing education and workforce development,” said Dr. Haibin Ning, UAB associate professor of materials engineering. “This partnership is an important step in addressing the challenges of modern manufacturing while providing students with the skills and credentials they need to succeed in the industry.”
UAB joins a growing network of METAL hubs, including Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, and University of Tennessee Knoxville, as part of a nationwide effort to expand access to high-quality, industry-relevant training. These university hubs expand the METAL network by fostering collaborations with local high schools, community colleges, and other educational institutions to create a pipeline of skilled workers for the U.S. manufacturing sector.
Through METAL’s multi-tiered curriculum, UAB aims to support workforce development by providing participants with academic credits, industry certifications, apprenticeships and degree tracks.
For more information about METAL, please contact:
Brittany Crocker
brittany@piper-communications.com
O: 865-329-0553 ext: 216
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 170-plus member community of industry, colleges and universities, national laboratories, and government agencies working together to benefit the nation’s energy, manufacturing, and economic security. IACMI is managed by the Collaborative Composite Solutions Corporation (CCS), a not-for-profit organization established by The University of Tennessee Research Foundation. A Manufacturing USA institute, IACMI is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Materials Manufacturing Technologies Office, as well as key state and industry partners. It collaborates with the Department of Defense to scale up industry-driven job skills and revitalize American manufacturing.
