XENIA, Ohio & MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Materials Resources LLC (MRL), an industry-leading aerospace and defense engineering firm and prime contractor for the U.S. Department of War, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Navy today announced a major real estate acquisition on Presidents Island in Memphis, Tennessee. Executed through its real estate holdings arm, MRL Defense LLC, the $1.64 million purchase of 929, 949, and 969 Channel Avenue secures a vital strategic footprint optimized for heavy logistics, direct rail access, and deep-water transport via McKellar Lake.
The 8.7-acre site sits a mere 3.5 miles from the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD), Memphis Detachment. MRL intends to immediately advance development plans for the property, which include constructing a state-of-the-art manufacturing and warehousing facility ranging from 40,000 to 70,000 square feet. The proposed facility is explicitly designed to support specialized metal casting and agile advanced additive manufacturing processes demanded by critical defense components.
“Until this moment, we are still in negotiations and weighing options for the future of our Smart Foundry business,” said Dr. Ayman Salem, CEO of Materials Resources LLC and President of MRL Defense LLC. “We have highly viable options between Ohio and Tennessee. The final decision will heavily weigh where we can optimize state-level economic development incentives, workforce development grants, and operational support to accelerate our defense delivery pipelines.”
MRL’s advanced hybrid additive manufacturing process is on the cutting edge of national defense, notably highlighted by its selection to pioneer agile production of solid rocket motor metallic cases for next-generation weapons systems. In addition, MRL success in casting Nickel Aluminum Bronze (NAB) could leverage the tri-modal logistical infrastructure of Memphis—integrating deep-water maritime transport and direct rail access—to deliver massive, specialized metal castings directly into the defense distribution network.
MRL executive leadership and financial teams, led by VP of Finance Daniel Rhoads, have initiated zoning and planning coordination for the site. As negotiations proceed with state and regional economic development councils in both the Midwest and the Mid-South, MRL expects to finalize its capital deployment strategy and facility operational assignment later this fiscal year.
