MTI Delivers North America’s First and Only Linear Friction Welder of Full-Size Development To LIFT Lightweighting Research Center in Detroit

DETROIT, MI – Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) has shipped North America’s first linear friction welder capable of full sized part development to the LIFT – Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow facility in Detroit where it will contribute to cutting edge lightweighting research in the automotive and aerospace sectors.

Measuring 22’ x 8 x 14’ and weighing 122,000 pounds (61 metric tons) – roughly the same weight as a Boeing 737 – the LF35-75 has the largest tooling envelope of any linear friction welder in the world, allowing for the production of the largest full-scale parts available. It will bring the same linear friction welding technology used in aerospace to achieve light-weighting blisks and Integrally Bladed Rotars (IBR) to aircraft engines and the automotive industry.

LIFT, one of the founding members of Manufacturing USA, is a public-private partnership designed to help develop and deploy advanced lightweight metal manufacturing technologies and implement education and training programs to better prepare the workforce of today and tomorrow.

LIFT expects the welder to be utilized immediately upon its set up in Detroit by its members to complete their ongoing research and development projects.

“This is the only machine of its kind in the world, and we are extremely excited about the possibilities this machine brings moving forward,” said MTI President and CEO Dan Adams.  “Our North American customers in the aerospace, automotive, defense, rail, and mining industries have been looking for a machine that is capable of full-scale parts. Previously, these customers would have to travel all the way to Europe.  But now, they have access to this technology right here in Detroit.”

“Deploying a machine such as this linear friction welder will increase our lightweighting research and development capabilities exponentially,” said Nigel Francis, CEO and executive director, LIFT. “We are thrilled to have MTI as a partner and thankful for their willingness to develop and deliver such an impressive piece of equipment for us here in Detroit.”

In order to best serve North American customers, MTI and LIFT will have shared capacity of the machine.

MTI, a world leader in friction welding technologies, will run and maintain the machine at LIFT’s facility in Detroit.  MTI will also complete customer directed work on the machine and support any programs that LIFT has moving forward.

About MTI
MTI has established itself as a leader in friction welding, including Rotary Friction, Linear Friction, Low Force Friction, and Friction Stir Welding technologies.  In addition to contract manufacturing services, MTI has delivered machines to Boeing, GE, Rolls- Royce, Pratt and Whitney, Federal Mogul, and many of their tier one suppliers.  A family owned business founded in 1926, MTI employs 185 people in their South Bend, United Kingdom, and Slovakia locations.

For more information on MTI and its family of world-class friction welding technologies, visit www.mtiwelding.com.

Twitter: @mtiwelding

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/manufacturing-technology-inc

ABOUT LIFT
LIFT, operated by the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute (ALMMII), is a Detroit-based, public-private partnership committed to the development and deployment of advanced lightweight metal manufacturing technologies, and implementing education and training initiatives to better prepare the workforce today and in the future. LIFT is one of the founding institutes of Manufacturing USA and is funded in part by the Department of Defense with management through the Office of Naval Research. Visit www.lift.technology, follow on Twitter @NewsFromLIFT or on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/lift—lightweight-innovations-for-tomorrow/ to learn more.