Hypermetal adds NXG XII 600 to boost aerospace and defence Additive Manufacturing
Hypermetal, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, has acquired an NXG XII 600 Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) Additive Manufacturing machine from Nikon SLM Solutions AG, based in Lübeck, Germany. This investment is intended to act as an expansion of the company’s position in the aerospace and defence sectors.
The new NXG XII 600 machine was adopted to address previous production limitations in build volume and throughput, enabling Hypermetal to manufacture larger, flight-critical components faster and with more consistency. By adopting Nikon SLM Solutions’ multi-laser technology, the company aims to strengthen its process control and qualification capability in compliance with EN9100 and ISO9001 standards.
This investment is part of Hypermetal’s approved project under Portugal 2030 – Productive Innovation, a national funding programme that supports companies in adopting advanced technologies and expanding industrial capabilities. Hypermetal’s project was said to have been selected for its strategic relevance to the aerospace and space sectors.
The investment is also aligned with national priorities. In a formal letter of endorsement, the Portuguese Space Agency (PT Space) recognised Hypermetal’s contribution to strengthening Portugal’s and Europe’s independent access to space.
“This investment marks an important step in Hypermetal’s growth,” stated Afonso Nogueira, Founder and CEO of Hypermetal. “By adding the Nikon SLM NXG system to our production capabilities, we are strengthening our ability to support demanding aerospace and defence programmes with certified, high-quality Additive Manufacturing.”
“It also allows our customers to access state-of-the-art technology on demand, whether to expand their own production capacity or to accelerate new developments,” Nogueira continued. “We see this as a strategic move toward deeper integration in the European advanced manufacturing supply chain.”
The NXG XII 600 will be used to produce functional components and demonstrators for propulsion systems, structural assemblies, and thermal management applications. While initially focused on the aerospace, space, and defence industries, the machine is expected to also support the production of complex geometries and lightweight structures using high-performance materials such as Inconel across other advanced industrial sectors.
“Nikon SLM Solutions offers unmatched reliability and productivity for large-scale Additive Manufacturing,” Nogueira added. “The NXG platform’s precision, scalability, and proven performance for aerospace applications perfectly align with Hypermetal’s goals of delivering flight-critical components under EN9100 and ISO9001 quality standards.”
Sam O’Leary, CEO of Nikon SLM Solutions, stated, “Hypermetal represents exactly the type of forward-looking partner driving the European AM ecosystem forward. Their investment in the NXG XII 600 underscores how industrial-scale metal AM is evolving from an experimental technology to a trusted production tool for critical applications in aerospace and defence. Together, we’re enabling a more resilient, capable, and independent European manufacturing supply chain.”
Visit Nikon SLM Solutions at Formnext Hall 12.0, Booth D119
www.hypermetal.eu
nikon-slm-solutions.com
