Manufacturing Demonstration Facility

Next-Generation Materials & Manufacturing Technologies

As the nation's premier research laboratory, ORNL is one of the world's most capable resources for transforming the next generation of scientific discovery into solutions for rebuilding and revitalizing America's manufacturing industries. The lab's Manufacturing Demonstration Facility offers distinctive world-leading capabilities in manufacturing and materials research technologies and characterization facilities that leverage previous and on-going government investments.

ORNL’s expertise in material synthesis, characterization, and process technology will assist manufacturing industries in conducting assessments of new fabrication concepts and methods for improving existing technologies. High priority research activities include:

  • Additive Manufacturing utilizing a broad range of direct manufacturing technologies, including electron beam melting, ultrasonic, extrusion, and laser metal deposition for rapid prototyping
  • Carbon Fiber and Composites using a broad range of carbon fiber synthesis, characterization, and compositing technologies from precursor evaluation through carbon fiber pilot scale production (25 metric tons/year) for low cost, lightweight, and higher-performance carbon fiber

Other important research areas include:

  • Lightweight Metals Processing using advanced synthesis and processing technologies for low-cost titanium alloys, magnesium alloys, and metal matrix composite products
  • Low-Temperature Material Synthesis for lower energy and processing costs through biosynthesis of unique materials at low temperature
  • Roll-to-Roll Processing using pulse thermal processing and other advanced processing technologies to develop low-cost manufacturing of flexible electronics, photovoltaics, and energy storage systems
  • Transient Field Processing utilizing radiant, magnetic, ultrasonic, electron beam, microwave, etc. for dramatic enhancement of material properties beyond today’s limits, including increased fatigue life and strength and stress relief

Partnering with Industry

Innovation is critical to the future of U.S. industry for reducing barriers and enabling affordable, rapid, adaptable, energy-efficient manufacturing. With more than 800 ongoing industry partnerships, the laboratory's extensive and unique science and technology resources build on many years of collaborations with industry. ORNL's ability to transition technologies will drive manufacturing innovations in the coming decades.

The MDF enables research and development from concept to prototype in an open or secure environment for reducing risks and costs, accelerating innovation, optimizing energy efficiency, protecting intellectual property and maximizing investments.

Strengthening the Nation's Vitality

Innovation drives US competitiveness, spurs job creation, and is critical to the future of US industry. Oak Ridge's program to develop affordable, rapid, adaptable, energy-efficient manufacturing provides technology-based solutions to industry engaged in virtually every sector of the nation's economy.

From concept to commercialization, ORNL's world-leading facilities and expertise enable research focused on reducing the energy intensity of US industry, supporting development of new products, and strengthening our nation's clean-energy economy to meet the commercial and national security needs of tomorrow.