ASTM and Nikon partner to advance defence manufacturing and workforce training
June 24, 2025
ASTM International and Nikon Advanced Manufacturing Inc have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on strategic initiatives aimed at accelerating advanced manufacturing capabilities, with a particular focus on defence applications and workforce development.
The partnership will prioritise the co-development of comprehensive education, training, and personnel certification programmes tailored to Department of Defence (DoD) needs, particularly those of the US Navy, and will be hosted primarily at the Nikon AM Technology Center in Long Beach, California.
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Nikon AM’s Long Beach facility houses the company’s most advanced large and ultra-large format laser beam powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) metal Additive Manufacturing machines, alongside metallurgy and metrology capabilities. Education programmes at this facility will serve to train the next generation of manufacturing professionals, equipping them with the skills required to sustain and grow domestic production capacity.
In addition to joint education and research initiatives, the partnership will support engagement with federal agencies and pursue government-funded projects that promote manufacturing innovation. Nikon AM will also play an active role in ASTM-hosted events, including the ASTM International Conference on Advanced Manufacturing (ICAM), as well as co-led seminars and workshops on topics ranging from process qualification to digital transformation.
“It has become increasingly clear that advanced manufacturing is critical to national competitiveness, and over the past couple of years, Nikon AM has been executing a strategic plan focused on onshoring these vital capabilities. In order to develop, build and operate the next generation of manufacturing equipment and solutions, we also need to inspire, educate and train the next-generation workforce about AM technology,” stated Hamid Zarringhalam, CEO of Nikon AM. “Combined, Nikon AM and ASTM bring nearly 235 years of legacy in quality, precision, and integrity — names that people already know and trust.”
Andrew G. Kireta, Jr., President of ASTM International, added, “For more than a century, ASTM has helped industries move from possibility to production by transforming markets, enabling standards, and assisting in technological developments. This collaboration with Nikon AM brings together two institutions with unmatched legacy and global recognition. Together, we’re reinforcing the connection between workforce development, resilient supply chains, and national security — all while helping accelerate the adoption of advanced manufacturing at an industrial scale.”
The MOU establishes a framework for the two organisations to collaborate in future opportunities while maintaining confidentiality and protecting intellectual property as they work toward formalising additional agreements.
