IACMI partners with Local Motors on jobs and composite materials

In partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Local Motors—a technology company that designs, builds and sells vehicles by combining co-creation with local micro-manufacturing—the project will demonstrate an integrated design and materials selection, together with a novel, low-cost reinforcing technique used to optimize parts for vehicle application. The joint effort to develop materials and reinforcements for advanced composites using large-scale additive manufacturing will be performed at DOE’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility. Additionally, the outcomes from the outlined project will enable the creation of multiple U.S. facilities that can produce cars with a substantial advanced composite make-up. Projections include new facilities, new high-skilled jobs in 2017, and complementary impact across a broad range of manufacturing sectors leading to a 50% reduction in design-to-manufacturing cycle time.

“The integration of design within the materials selection and manufacture process optimizes vehicle production by reducing cycle time,” said Gregory Haye, Local Motors General Manager. “The partnership with IACMI-The Composites Institute and its vast group of partners provides access to unique research and development capabilities, ultimately resulting in a more efficient manufacture process for our organization.”

The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), managed by the Collaborative Composite Solutions Corporation (CCS), is a partnership of industry, universities, national laboratories, and federal, state and local governments working together to benefit the nation’s energy and economic security by sharing existing resources and co-investing to accelerate development and commercial deployment of advanced composites. CCS is a not-for-profit organization established by The University of Tennessee Research Foundation. The national Manufacturing USA institute is supported by a $70 million commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office, and over $180 million committed from IACMI’s partners.

“The Composites Institute’s impact is larger than the project research and development work taking place at our facilities. Collaboration amongst IACMI members spans the entire industry supply chain from material suppliers, BASF and TechmerPM, to design and manufacturing with Local Motors. Commercialization of new innovations is resulting in the creation of new jobs, expansion of manufacturing facilities and an overall economic development impact benefitting the entire ecosystem of composites manufacturers.” Bryan Dods, IACMI-The Composites Institute CEO.

Local Motors is a technology company that designs, builds and sells vehicles by combining co-creation with local micro-manufacturing. We invite the global community of solvers, makers, and technologist to join us as together we create technology-forward products that inspire, empower, and nurture humanity.