Metal Powder Works and Austal USA target US Navy Additive Manufacturing
Metal Powder Works, headquartered in Pittsburgh, USA, has signed a Powder Partnership Agreement with Austal USA, a subsidiary of Austal Limited, Australia’s largest shipbuilder and a global defence prime. Under the agreement, MPW and Austal USA will co-develop metal powder specifications tailored for specialised use in Austal USA’s Additive Manufacturing operations. These include programmes at the US Navy’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE) in Danville, Virginia.
Austal USA is reportedly already an active purchaser of MPW powder, with this agreement formalising its commercial relationship and establishing a framework for expanded collaboration and supply.
MPW intends to leverage its patented DirectPowder Process to develop custom alloy powders tailored to Austal USA’s specifications. MPW will provide samples for testing, refining powder characteristics as needed to achieve optimal performance, with the materials of interest including MPW’s CuNi alloys, which have met stringent US Navy specifications. MPW’s novel production technology is believed to expand available sources, reduce the risk of single-source failures, and enhance cost competitiveness in the US Navy supply chain.
Upon successful completion of the development programme, MPW and Austal intend to negotiate a commercial offtake agreement establishing minimum annual volumes, pricing structures, and lead times for ongoing powder supply.
“We are delighted to formalise our partnership with Austal USA, operator of the US Navy’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence and a critical supplier to the US Navy. This partnership positions MPW’s DirectPowder technology within a strategic naval supply chain initiative at a time when the US Department of Defense is making significant investments in Additive Manufacturing capabilities. With both companies manufacturing in the United States, we are well-positioned to support the domestic defence industrial base and look forward to expanding our collaboration as Austal scales Additive Manufacturing across its naval programmes,” said John E Barnes, CEO of Metal Powder Works.
Dr Scott Kasen, Director of Advanced Technologies at Austal USA, shared, “Austal USA is committed to advancing manufacturing technologies that strengthen our capabilities as a US defence prime contractor. Through our operation of the US Navy’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence, we are at the forefront of deploying Additive Manufacturing solutions across the maritime industrial base. Our partnership with Metal Powder Works provides access to high-performance metal powders specifically optimised for these applications, and the DirectPowder Process offers unique flexibility to tailor powder characteristics to the exacting requirements of naval manufacturing.”
