IACMI in Tennessee
Collaboration Accelerates Composites Innovation
Tennessee is home to IACMI’s headquarters. The state’s vibrant economy, leading universities and legendary U.S. national laboratory make it an excellent hub for the composite community to convene, connect and catalyze.
Equipment + Expertise = Opportunity
IACMI was established in 2015 as the fifth Manufacturing USA institute created by the White House and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). IACMI core partners since inception include the University of Tennessee (UT) System and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).
IACMI and its Tennessee partners bring together a world-class team with knowledge of composite applications across multiple industry sectors. Close proximity cultivates collaboration – from basic fundamental research to full-scale commercialization pathway. The team has deep expertise in state-of-the-art composites manufacturing, materials innovation and processing, recycling and upcycling. In addition, the team has a strong track record in supporting U.S. workforce development through training, education and industry engagement initiatives.
The institute’s headquarters are at the UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm. The 150-acre park also hosts IACMI partners:
- UT Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility (FCMF)
- UT Institute for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Research Facility
- Volkswagen North American Innovation Hub
ORNL, located just outside of Knoxville, hosts the:
- Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF)
- Carbon Fiber Technology Facility (CFTF)
Vanderbilt University in Nashville hosts the Laboratory for Systems Integrity and Reliability (LASIR), another IACMI partner.
IACMI Member Benefits
IACMI members can leverage our facilities for:
- On-Site Technical Expertise
- State-of-the-Art Infrastructure for Materials Innovation
- Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 1-3 Fundamental Research
- TRL 3-5 Applied Research
- TRL 5-7 Scale-Up Research
- Material Characterization: Rheological to Mechanical and Structural Analysis
R&D Capabilities
Key Equipment & Technology:
- One-of-a-Kind, 70-Foot Modular Michelman Sizing Line
- Strongwell Pultrusion Line for production of continuous profiles
- Cincinnati Inc. Large-Scale Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) System
- High-Speed Compression Molding Presses, Multiple Machinery Brands, 30T-500T
- Trelleborg 6-Axis Automatic Tape Placement, Thermoplastic and Thermoset Heads
Representative Projects:
- Workforce Development: METAL and America’s Cutting Edge (ACE)
- Community Awareness: Friendship Bell Made With 33-Foot Braided Carbon Fiber Beams
- Design-to-Factory: Volkswagen SUV Lightweight Composite Liftgate
- Product Development: Recycled Compression-Molded Class A Carbon Fiber Component
- Design-to-Installation: Morgan County Vehicular Bridge
Technical Area Advisors
Materials & Processes Technical Area Director & Energy Working Group Co-Leader
U.S. Dept. of Energy Carbon Fiber Technology Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
ORNL Section Head, Composite Science and Technology
University of Tennessee (UT) Assistant Professor
Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering
Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility (FCMF)
Vanderbilt University Laboratory for Systems Integrity and Reliability (LASIR), Founder and Co-Director
Vanderbilt University Civil and Environmental Engineering Department,
Daniel F. Flowers Professor, Distinguished Professor
Vanderbilt Institute of National Security, Executive Director