Velo3D has entered into an Other Transition Agreement (OTA) contract with the U.S. Department of War's (DoW) Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) in support of a major weapon system program of record.
The contract, with a total value of $32.6 million, supports DIU's Foundry for Operational Readiness and Global Effects (Project FORGE).
Project FORGE is charged with identifying solutions to existing manufacturing bottlenecks for 'certain traditionally manufactured parts and platforms' within the U.S. defence industrial base. These production bottlenecks, the DoW says, prevent the throughput necessary to scale a critical weapon system program.
Velo3D will now work with DIU, the U.S. Navy and a key industry prime to prototype and qualify additively manufactured components that will allow the DoW to efficiently scale the additive manufacturing solution to remove the bottleneck and increase production rates for this critical program.
"We are excited for the collaboration between DIU and industry partners like Velo3D to develop and qualify the AM solution needed to resolve a critical production backlog," said Mr. Derek McBride, Program Manager, DIU. "The combination of DIU's expertise in rapidly responding to some of the DoW's most difficult challenges and Velo3D's capabilities as an advanced additive manufacture, is the type of close collaboration we need with our Defense Industrial Base to support the warfighter."
The contract will leverage Velo3D's Rapid Production Solution (RPS) to quickly prototype alternatives to traditional subtractive manufacturing methods. Additionally, the agreement includes an option to explore the development of the 'largest format Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) printing capability within the U.S.' to support additive manufacturing needs not currently possible within the U.S. industrial base.
Velo3D's RPS was launched last year and leverages the company's metal additive manufacturing systems to enable 'scalable production of mission-critical components.'
"As the only U.S.-based industrial-scale OEM with domestically developed Laser Powder-Bed Fusion technology, Velo3D is absolutely honoured for the opportunity to collaborate with the DoW, DIU, and the Navy to ultimately deliver a solution that supports the warfighter," said Dr. Arun Jeldi, CEO of Velo3D. "Through our Rapid Production Solution, we are providing faster part delivery, enhanced reliability and the surge capacity needed to meet evolving defence demands."
