Mines partners with METAL to advance workforce training in metalworking and manufacturing

Colorado School of Mines is proud to announce a new partnership with the Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL) program, led by IACMI – The Composites Institute®, to enhance and scale up industry-driven training opportunities for current and prospective metalworking and manufacturing professionals. Supported through funding by the U.S. Department of War’s Office of Industrial Base Policy, METAL strengthens and diversifies the U.S. metal manufacturing workforce, focusing on casting and forging.

Mines will develop and implement a Mobile Training Unit, a transportable STEM learning environment suitable for educational use, offering in-person sessions that consist of hands-on activities and programs, career exploration demonstrations, and educator engagement sessions. The program will support integrated STEM instruction, aiming to spark interest in metallurgical and advanced manufacturing careers. Activities include educational experiences related to casting, forging, machining, materials science, and manufacturing design challenges.

“We are thrilled to announce METAL’s partnership with Colorado School of Mines,” said Mike Kubacki, METAL Program Director at IACMI. “Mines’ Mobile Training Unit gives us an opportunity to bring hands-on manufacturing education directly to students and introduce them to career pathways they may not otherwise encounter. By engaging students early with casting, forging, and other advanced manufacturing technologies, we can help build awareness and interest in the skills and careers that will be essential to the future of American manufacturing.”

Mines’ partnership with METAL includes plans to:

• Deploy a fully operational educational mobile unit by the end of 2026, with the goal of reaching a minimum of 360 students by the end of its tenure
• Foster collaborations with local grade schools, high schools, community colleges and universities. This strategic partnership will focus on integrating METAL training into their educational curriculum, enriching opportunities for students interested in metalworking and manufacturing and addressing critical needs.
• Develop and sustain industry partnerships with regional metalworking employers to align training with workforce needs. Activities include employer participation in hands-on training, networking events and panels, integration of the METAL curriculum into workforce training, and creating hiring opportunities for participants.

“We have been amazed by the level of interest generated by the Mobile METAL Manufacturing (MMM) training 18-wheeler," said Terry Lowe, Forging Industry Educational and Research Foundation Chair and METAL project lead at Colorado School of Mines. "Industry partners and educational institutions alike immediately recognize the value of bringing advanced, hands-on manufacturing training directly to their locations. METAL has created an innovative and highly relevant model for workforce development, and we are proud to partner in this effort. Through the MMM, Colorado School of Mines will share its expertise in metallurgical engineering and manufacturing with learners, educators, and companies throughout the Western United States and beyond,” 

A few months ago, IACMI announced plans to expand METAL and America’s Cutting Edge (ACE), another workforce development program focused on machining and manufacturing, to 53 new locations at universities, colleges and trade schools by 2030, bringing the total number of sites to more than 100. Additionally, IACMI will introduce new initiatives to engage over 50,000 K-12 students and provide hundreds of internship opportunities.

Colorado School of Mines’ addition to the METAL network strengthens a growing national network of contracted METAL sites across 13 states. Together, these institutions are revitalizing American manufacturing by delivering responsive, scalable and sustainable workforce development programs.

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 War, IACMI brings together over 190 members from industry, academia, and government to drive manufacturing innovation and workforce development.