What is a top goal in your work to foster IACMI member success?

IACMI SuRF focuses on the last R&D phase: development at scale. This is the pivotal point at which our members often decide whether to commercialize a technology. It is my goal to ensure that SuRF provides the right resources to support rapid innovation and market penetration. For example, we have added both thermoplastic and thermoset composite automation cells. We can help with smart manufacturing. I want members to keep coming back while attracting new businesses to our facility.

How are you helping members meet current USA manufacturing demands?

Speed to market matters. The manufacturing landscape is evolving quickly. SuRF helps IACMI members to accelerate projects from the lab to full-scale production readiness. For example, they can validate processes on our equipment before making their own capital expenditure commitments. In fact, one member asked to be first in line to use our new 4,000-ton compression molding cell to make 10,000 parts – before the press was fully installed! There is an urgency to stay ahead of the curve. 

European companies also are approaching us for help with onshoring. We encourage this foreign investment by working closely with partners such as the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

Could you describe the objective and outcome for a project you led?

We helped a member validate a manufacturing process variation for an EV battery enclosure. The company wanted to test a new fire-resistant resin and production method. Could the new approach provide the desired output rate, cost and  performance? We worked together to get answers so that they could make go-to-market decisions.

What other benefits does SuRF offer IACMI members?

There are a variety of ways to take advantage of SuRF. We offer co-location opportunities whereby members can use our space. They can bring their customers into our facilities to see what they have in the works. We also serve as a customer engagement hub for applications beyond mobility. For example, ExxonMobil has interest in smart manufacturing, and they are investing in equipment and devoting staff time at SuRF to that end.