Apple is expanding its U.S. manufacturing footprint with a new Houston center designed to help bolster American manufacturing with education and resources.
On Thursday, Apple opened its 20,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC) in Houston, Texas. The center is offering free training for small and medium-sized businesses.
The AMC is housed in the same facility that produces Apple's AI servers. The site is also set to begin Mac mini production later this year.
Apple has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into the project, bringing it to fruition in less than nine months.
"We believe in American workers and American ingenuity, and we are moving at an incredible pace because we want to build more than great products. We want to build the future of American manufacturing," said Cook.
As part of the kickoff event, Apple hosted U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, Houston Mayor John Whitmire, U.S. Representative Christian Menefee, and Harris County Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis, along with other officials and community partners.
The AMC's holographic table - Image Credit: Apple
To mark the opening, the business leaders will spend the day immersed in hands-on training. Apple engineers will cover techniques like machine-learning-driven quality control and advanced automation.
Participants will learn how to identify and adapt to production challenges. They will also engage with the lab's holographic table and advanced factory-floor equipment.
The site is Apple's second-largest manufacturing site in the U.S.
