Metal Powder Works and Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) have moved into the next phase of a product development project.
WEC is said to have achieved successful results during previous phases of their collaboration, with the two companies now embarking on a scale-up of their efforts.
Over the next three months, Metal Powder Works will seek to advance its ability to make powder for Westinghouse, helping to improve end-product performance and increase the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of components under development. These will support Westinghouse's broader initiatives in advanced manufacturing and materials innovation for the nuclear energy sector.
This engagement builds on MPW's patented DirectPowder process, which converts metal bar stock into powder feedstock for additive manufacturing, cold spray, and powder metallurgy applications without melting or contamination.
Nuclear is said to be the highest-growth AM sub-sector within energy. This growth is being driven by 'urgent spare parts demand' for ageing fleets and an accelerating SMR pipeline.
Metal Powder Works Managing Director John Barnes said, “This follow-on contract with Westinghouse highlights the solid performance of our DirectPowder™ process and the hard work of our combined technical teams. This continued confidence from WEC highlights that our powder works as expected and can meet their exacting requirements, exceeding the capability of legacy atomised powder methods.”
Metal Powder Works confirmed in a press release that the contract is not material from a financial perspective, but that it believes an ongoing strategic relationship with one of the world’s most respected nuclear energy companies is material.
