6K Additive has been awarded a $1.95 million Phase II contract to support the US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) in converting domestic scrap into metal additive manufacturing powders.
The contract will run for an 18-month term, with 6K Additive taken receipt of Nickel, Titanium, Tungsten, and Niobium scrap from select United States Military Depots.
The initiative, titled "Recovering Strategic Value, aims to lessen the U.S. military's dependence on foreign sources for critical strategic metals.
A heavy reliance on imported metals - China controls over 80% of global Tungsten production, and the U.S. depends entirely on imports for Niobium, primarily from Brazil and Canada, per Statista - is said to be presenting the US defence industrial base with a strategic vulnerability.
The US Defense Logistics Agency is therefore looking to maximise the value of end-of-life components by leveraging 'the baseline processes developed in previous 6K Additive DLA awards. Specifically, the Scope of Work (SOW) for Phase III is expected to focus on materials from DLA Disposition Services, the Navy and the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center and aligning processes to maximise value for the DoD.
Through the contract, a proof of concept for a robotic system that enables identification and sorting of material will be carried out, and cold spray trials to investigate the mechanical properties of upcycled Nickel and Titanium powder for use as a repair technology will be completed.
Specific operations will take place at major aviation depots, which generate upwards of 60,000 pounds of mixed scrap metal weekly. Upcycled powders will be returned to the military for rigorous testing against virgin metal standards to ensure performance in critical defence applications.
"The U.S. Government has made it clear that to advance our defence readiness, we cannot rely on geopolitically sensitive regions for the materials essential to our most advanced weapon systems," said Frank Roberts, CEO of 6K Additive. "By upcycling domestic scrap from DoD stockpiles and maintenance centres, we are creating a circular, secure, and sustainable supply chain for the US defence sector. This Award enables us and the DoD to further identify end-of-life parts and scrap to convert back into high-value powder, ultimately leading to strategic components for the military."
6K Additive will leverage multiple IP technology pillars for this activity, including its strategic process for sizing solid scrap into angular powder, the UniMelt platform, and its in-house post-processing capabilities that complete the transformation of scrap into 'premium spherical powders.'
The contract is subject to standard U.S. government contract terms, including performance milestones and termination rights.
