MSU Advanced Composites Institute

MSU’s Advanced Composites Institute (ACI) dramatically enhances MSU’s ability to design, fabricate, and test various composite prototypes. The Institute is equipped and positioned to support disruptive, transdisciplinary programs that address fundamental upstream and broader downstream needs in aerospace, automotive, marine, energy, military and other crucial markets. The 50,000 sqft facility also houses the distinguished Marvin B. Dow Stitched Composites Development Center, dedicated to R&D of stitched composite technologies that improve the efficiency of material structures. The ACI is home to an Automated VARTM process with production-scale working volumes, a 50x20x10 ft3 programmable curing oven up to 450°F, an automated robotic stitching system with 8 ft reach by 40 ft travel, a production scale CNC ply cutter, temp. and humidity-controlled layup rooms, 5-axis CNC machine, 3 ft diameter by 4 ft autoclave, advanced additive manufacturing, walk-in freezers, and Olympus pulse echo NDI equipment. The ACI is a trusted partner of many major OEMs in multiple market segments for ideation, engineering, design, fabrication, scale-up, and evaluation of innovative solutions. The ACI has successfully executed hundreds of fabrication orders for tier-one partners providing the foundation for cutting-edge advanced material research and development in valuable innovation portfolios.