President Obama unveiled a pair of new “manufacturing innovation institutes” yesterday, adding a bit of humor while announcing a new public-private partnership near Detroit devoted to developing light weight metals. “Basically, I’m here to announce that we’re building Iron Man — I’m going to blast off in a second,” joked the president. According to USA Today, a second “innovation hub” will be located in Obama’s hometown of Chicago.
This second hub will focus on digital manufacturing and design. During a White House ceremony, Obama said that he wants America to be on the cutting edge in order to “attract more good manufacturing jobs.” Plans for four innovation hubs this year are under way, given the ability to fund the projects. A previous manufacturing hub has already been established in Youngstown, Ohio, as well as an Energy Department-led hub in Raleigh, N.C. Some of the items, Obama said, that could be made by these kinds of manufacturing hubs include the support frame of a joint strike fighter, the engine for a helicopter, a robotic arm used in underwater explosive removal, and a 3-D printer.