Apple today opened a new manufacturing learning site in Houston, Texas, to offer free training sessions to small and medium-sized businesses to help 'accelerate innovation'.
The site, referred to as an 'Advanced Manufacturing Center' (AMC), is to be used as a training facility that Apple says includes teaching the 'same innovative processes used' to manufacture its own products.
Apple's AMC is inside the same facility that produces Apple's AI servers, and is where the company will begin manufacturing Mac mini models later this year.
The opening was attended by many high profile US politicians, including Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Senator Ted Cruz and John Whitmire, the Mayor of Houston.
Image: Apple Inc.
Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, said at the opening:
“In less than nine months, we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars into this Houston facility. We stood up a factory, started production, and shipped the first advanced AI servers off the line. Today, we’re thrilled to open our new Advanced Manufacturing Center, a place where businesses, workers, and students can learn the same innovative processes that we use to make Apple’s most groundbreaking products. And we’re pleased to begin Mac mini production later this year."
The new facility comes just over a year after Apple increased its American manufacturing commitment to $600 billion (£450 billion), following calls from the US administration to bring more manufacturing back home.
Commerce Secretary Lutnick said:
“This opening is an important step in Apple delivering on its promise to bring its manufacturing back to America,”
Apple says the facility is 20,000-square-foot and will provide classroom sessions and hands-on training led by the company's own engineers.
Lead Image: Apple Inc.
