Photo: Shawn Millsaps

March 19, 2026–The Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility (FCMF) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT) and IACMI are pleased to share a space at Cherokee Farms in Knoxville, Tenn., as a launchpad for composites innovation and commercialization. The integrated facility at Innovation South brings together advanced manufacturing equipment that spans the full machining lifecycle—from raw material preparation to finished product.

By co-locating the equipment in one space, the facility allows IACMI Members, researchers, industry partners, and students to design, manufacture, inspect, and test parts in a single environment. This accelerates innovation, shortens development cycles, and enables rapid prototyping of advanced materials and structures.

In addition to supporting research and industrial collaboration, the facility serves as a hands-on training environment for the next-generation workforce.

At Innovation South you’ll find:

Advanced Manufacturing:

• Michelman Sizing Line: The Michelman fiber sizing line applies protective coatings to fibers to improve strength, handling, and performance in composite manufacturing
• 3D Printing–Hypersonic: This 3D printing system enables advanced material innovation by producing high-temperature, lightweight components for hypersonic aerospace applications
• ATP: Automated Tape Placement (ATP) enables precise, high-speed placement of composite fibers, producing complex lightweight structures for aerospace and advanced manufacturing
• Filament Winder: The filament winder enables precise fiber winding to produce strong, lightweight composite structures such as pressure vessels, pipes, and aerospace components
• Extrusion/Compression molding: The Plasticator and Wabash 150-ton press enables high-rate composite manufacturing, forming durable, high-strength parts for automotive and other advanced industries
• Wet-laid: The wet-laid machine produces nonwoven fiber mats for high-rate composite manufacturing in aerospace and automotive applications
• VARTM: Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) produces high-quality, lightweight composite parts for aerospace, automotive, marine, and industrial applications using infusion
• Haas: The Haas 3-axis CNC machine enables precise, multi-sided machining for complex manufacturing applications
• KUKA: The KUKA 6-axis robotic arm enables precise, multi-directional motion for complex manufacturing, inspection, and advanced materials processing

 

Advanced Characterization:

• Mechanical Testing Room: Mechanical testing of materials under tensile, compressive, impact, fatigue, and flexural loads for advanced manufacturing applications
• Characterization Room: The integrated use of polishing equipment with high-resolution optical microscopy (up to 1000X, including cross-polarized imaging) and the Netzsch Calibri 100 differential scanning calorimeter with UV capability enables comprehensive material characterization by revealing crystalline orientation at the microstructural level.
• NDE Room: Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) systems enable inspection of materials and components for defects without damage–supporting aerospace, automotive, and industrial quality assurance

Workforce effort:

• Sand Casting: Sand casting system enables cost-effective manufacturing of durable, intricate metal parts for industry and trains workforce in advanced manufacturing
• Forging: Forging creates high-strength metal components for aerospace, automotive, and industrial applications
• Investment Casting: Investment casting produces high-precision, complex metal components for aerospace, automotive, jewelry, and industrial applications while training the next-generation workforce and disseminating advanced manufacturing knowledge
• VR Oculus Training: Oculus VR headsets provide immersive simulation for advanced manufacturing and materials processing–enabling realistic hands-on training and process visualization
• Circular Economy Injection Molder: The injection molder supports circular economy practices and trains the next-generation workforce in sustainable manufacturing and advanced plastic processing

Displays:

• General Display: Exhibit of composite materials for sports, marine, fishing, piping, braided structures, medical, and industrial applications
• Hypersonic Display: A display showcasing materials, components, and technologies used in hypersonic vehicles–including heat-resistant composites, high-temperature metals, and advanced manufacturing solutions for aerospace applications