California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Joins METAL to Expand Metallurgical Workforce Training on the West Coast

POMONA, California, July 29, 2025 – The Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL) program, led by IACMI – The Composites Institute®, is proud to announce a new partnership with California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (CPP) to establish a West Coast hub for advanced workforce training in metalworking and manufacturing. Funded by 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.

As the newest METAL hub operator, CPP will serve as a regional training and coordination center, integrating METAL training across educational institutions.

“This new hub in Southern California marks an exciting expansion of our national training footprint,” said Lucinda Curry, METAL National Workforce Manager at IACMI. “CPP brings strong regional connections, a commitment to innovation in engineering education, and a proven track record of engaging learners. Through this partnership, we will ensure that current and future professionals in the West Coast have access to critical metallurgical skills training.”

CPP will implement METAL’s nationally recognized curriculum, beginning with a combination of online training and immersive, in-person boot camps held at CPP’s state-of-the-art manufacturing labs, which are equipped for melting, machining and heat treatment.

Participants will gain practical experience in foundational processes, with access to advanced training in automation and specialized industry needs as they progress through the METAL curriculum.

In addition to adult training, CPP will lead outreach efforts for K–12 students by offering half-day workshops and partnering with high schools, technical schools and community colleges to spark early interest in metallurgical careers.

“We are proud to join the METAL program and help shape the future of manufacturing talent in California and beyond,” said Winny Dong, the chemical and materials engineering professor leading the CPP METAL program. “This program aligns with our polytechnic mission to provide hands-on, industry-relevant education and reinforces our commitment to workforce readiness in advanced manufacturing.”

CPP’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 at Knoxville, Tennessee Tech and Michigan Technological University. Together, these institutions are revitalizing American manufacturing by delivering responsive, scalable and sustainable workforce development programs.

For more information about METAL at Cal Poly Pomona, 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 Defense, IACMI brings together over 170 members from industry, academia, and government to drive manufacturing innovation and workforce development.

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Pittsburgh-based Patterns of Meaning art initiative partners with METAL to engage K-12 students in steel and metal manufacturing

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL) program, led by IACMI – The Composites Institute® with funding from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program, today announced a new partnership with the Pittsburgh-based Patterns of Meaning Initiative, an innovative program that introduces steel, specialty materials and metal manufacturing to K-12 students through the arts.

“Manufacturing – including steel and metal production – is necessary for the future and depends on new artisans capable of the creativity and innovation it requires,” said Cory Bonnet, Pittsburgh-based artist and Patterns of Meaning founder. “The goal of Patterns of Meaning is to help change the cultural perception of heavy manufacturing from a dying industry to a creative and vital essential human contribution. Ultimately, we want to encourage future generations to pursue industrial trades, a much-needed trend for future workforce development.”

Patterns of Meaning is an unprecedented collection of industrial artifacts, paintings and sculptures honoring the industrial era. Its K-12 initiative is a unique curriculum that combines classroom project-based learning with experiential fine art exhibits, including artwork in steel, glass, ceramics and wood.

The partnership with METAL will be piloted in the Pittsburgh Public School District and surrounding counties. It includes classroom presentations, field trips to Patterns of Meaning Exhibit Hall, and hands-on instruction guided by local faculty for class art projects focused on the metalworking industry. Projects may include drawing, painting or collage for younger students, then progress to more complex projects using computer-aided design, wax models, sand casting and additive manufacturing processes for advanced learners.

By introducing students to the creative and technical opportunities within engineering and sciences through fine art, the initiative will reach students not traditionally tracked for careers in these fields.

Since its kickoff in 2023, METAL—a U.S. Department of Defense-funded program that is developing a skilled trade pipeline to fill gaps in the U.S. metallurgical and manufacturing workforce—has gained significant momentum, including a rapidly expanding network of university hubs that assist with K-12 and adult metallurgical training. Tennessee Tech, University of Alabama and Michigan Tech are the two most recent additions, but the network also includes The Ohio State University, Penn State and the University of Tennessee.

“We applaud Patterns of Meaning for its innovative efforts to transform public perceptions of the steel industry and manufacturing through fine arts,” said METAL National Workforce Manager Lucinda Curry. “Patterns of Meaning engages youth in metal manufacturing, aligning with METAL’s mission to strengthen the future metalworking workforce.”

Visit the Patterns of Meaning Workshop and Exhibit Hall in the Energy Innovation Center in Pittsburgh, Pa. and for a limited time in Brooklyn, N.Y. Patterns of Meaning recently announced a new partnership with Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, displaying its works in an exhibit entitled “Brooklyn X Pittsburgh: The Industry of Art” in Brooklyn, New York from July 19 to August 24.

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 Patterns of Meaning

The Patterns of Meaning Initiative offers an innovative solution to address the critical challenges facing the manufacturing and steel industries—an aging workforce, difficulty in attracting young talent, and a weak public perception. Recognizing that these industries require new artisans, Patterns of Meaning embarks on an initiative to use fine arts to engage K-12 students by combining interactive, project-based classroom learning with experiential art exhibits featuring large-scale paintings and sculptures from the Patterns collection. To learn more, visit https://patternsofmeaning.org/.

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New METAL Hub Launches at the University of Alabama, Birmingham

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

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.

New METAL Hub Launches at Michigan Technological University

HOUGHTON, Michigan, May 8, 2025 – The Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL) program is proud to announce a new partnership with Michigan Technological University (MTU) 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.

This partnership will provide hands-on and online workforce training designed to strengthen the casting, forging, and machining industries.

As METAL’s newest hub operator, MTU will deliver METAL’s nationally recognized curriculum, facilitate instructor certification, and launch boot camps and academic pathways tailored to current and future metalworking professionals. MTU will also integrate METAL training into its Summer Youth Programs to offer an immersive introduction to metalworking, metallurgy, and materials science to high school students from across the Upper Midwest.

“This partnership builds on Michigan Tech’s deep roots in materials science and engineering, as well as its strategic location in the Upper Midwest, a region vital to the U.S. manufacturing base,” said Lucinda Curry, METAL National Workforce Manager at IACMI. “Michigan Tech is an ideal partner for this mission, and we’re excited to work together to provide valuable metallurgical training in the manufacturing heartland.”

The MTU hub will implement a stacked curriculum model, which combines interactive online learning with immersive in-person casting and forging boot camps at MTU’s state-of-the-art labs. Future educational modules will incorporate training on automation in casting and forging, and will open pathways to employment in critical industry roles.

“Michigan Tech is proud to be part of METAL’s mission to revitalize and future-proof the American manufacturing workforce,” said Alexandra Glover, Assistant Professor in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Michigan Tech. “By leveraging our longstanding educational programs focused on metallurgical engineering and strong industry partnerships, we are preparing students with both the foundational and advanced skills needed to thrive in the evolving industrial landscape.”

MTU joins a growing consortium of METAL hubs, including University of Alabama in Birmingham, Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Together, these institutions are driving a nationwide resurgence in metallurgical and manufacturing excellence by expanding access to high-quality, industry-relevant training.

For more information about METAL at Michigan Tech, please contact:

Brittany Crocker
Email: brittany@piper-communications.com
Phone: 865-329-0553 ext: 216

About METAL
Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL), led by IACMI, is a national initiative that provides industry-aligned training in casting, forging, machining, and metallurgical processes. With a focus on automation and advanced manufacturing, METAL aims to create a skilled, adaptable workforce prepared to meet both commercial and defense manufacturing demands.

About Michigan Technological University

Michigan Technological University is an R1 public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.