WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (February 2, 2026) – The Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL) program, led by IACMI – The Composites Institute®, is proud to announce a new partnership with Purdue University engineering programs to enhance and scale up industry-driven training opportunities for current and prospective metalworking and manufacturing professionals. Funded by the Department of War’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program, METAL strengthens and diversifies the U.S. metal manufacturing workforce, focusing on casting, forging and plate rolling.
Purdue’s School of Materials Engineering within the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology Program within the Polytechnic Institute 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, these Purdue 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. Purdue has been a core innovation partner with IACMI since the institute was founded in 2015, providing leadership for Design, Modeling & Simulation Technology for composites manufacturing and performance. This expanded partnership builds on that cross-collaboration of research and workforce development.
“Purdue is an exciting addition to the METAL program,” said Lucinda Curry, METAL National Workforce Manager at IACMI. “Many students and job seekers are unfamiliar with the advanced technologies and career opportunities available in metal casting and forging. We are partnering with educational institutions to showcase the dynamic, rewarding careers that these industries offer.”
“We are thrilled to partner with IACMI and the METAL program to leverage decades of Purdue investment in metal casting, heat treating and characterization across campus,” said Michael Titus, associate professor of materials engineering. “The METAL program will expand and update our capabilities across investment casting and automated foundries to bring unique training opportunities to students, job seekers and industrial partners alike.”
Ragu Athinarayanan, professor of smart manufacturing and industrial informatics, added, “The METAL program will leverage Purdue’s uniquely integrated Smart Foundry, embedding Industry 4.0 capabilities such as digital twins, advanced sensing, data analytics, robotics, and AI directly into the foundry environment. This positions Purdue as a living laboratory where metalcasting expertise and next-generation digital manufacturing technologies come together to advance productivity, sustainability, and workforce readiness.”
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.
Purdue’s Engineering and Polytechnic partnership with METAL includes plans to:
- Develop an investment casting module with both online and in-person components, as well as an in-person smart foundry bootcamp.
- Execute a minimum of 15 in-person bootcamps for at least 225 participants throughout the course of its tenure.
- Hold at least 25 outreach events for a minimum of 750 K-12 students.
- Foster collaborations with local high schools and community colleges. This strategic partnership will focus on integrating METAL training into their educational curriculum, enriching opportunities for students interested in metalworking and manufacturing.
- Participate in a comprehensive Train the Trainer initiative, which aims to equip future METAL program partner schools and training centers with the knowledge and capability to host bootcamps.
- Establish academic credit for secondary and post-secondary students and non-credit pathways including courses that can be applied to micro credentials, industry certifications, apprenticeships and degree tracks. The effort ensures alignment with industry standards while providing students with recognized certifications and future educational opportunities in metallurgy.
Purdue’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 and NC State. Together, these institutions are revitalizing American manufacturing by delivering responsive, scalable and sustainable workforce development programs.
For more information about METAL at Purdue, 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 Purdue School of Materials Engineering
The School of Materials Engineering (MSE) at Purdue University is a nationally recognized program offering BS, MS, and PhD degrees focused on the structure, properties, and design of materials used across industries from aerospace to biotechnology. Purdue’s MSE undergraduate program is ranked in the top 10 nationally by U.S. News & World Report, while its graduate program consistently holds a #12 national ranking, reflecting excellence in research and education. Currently, MSE is home to over 250 undergraduate students, 170 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, and 40 core faculty members, with research and teaching spanning metals, polymers, ceramics, composites, electronic materials, and sustainable materials.
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 Purdue School of Engineering Technology
The School of Engineering Technology (SOET) at the Purdue University Polytechnic Institute provides industry-ready education and high-impact research programs and offers BS, MS, and PhD degrees focused on areas such as computer engineering technology, electrical engineering technology, mechatronics and robotics engineering technology, and smart manufacturing. Purdue’s SOET talent pipeline produces graduates with engineering knowledge and practical skills who are recruited by Fortune 500 companies and startups worldwide. SOET is home to more than 1,400 undergraduate students, 170 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, and 80 core faculty members, with research and teaching spanning manufacturing technologies, autonomous and intelligent systems, health sciences and technologies, energy, materials and sustainability, and a senior capstone course that produces new intellectual property and companies each year.