Trumpf qualifies 6K Additive’s titanium powder on TruPrint Additive Manufacturing machines
April 2, 2025
Trumpf, based in Ditzingen, Germany, has qualified titanium metal powder from 6K Additive, a division of 6K, based in North Andover, Massachusetts, USA, for use in its TruPrint Additive Manufacturing machines. Titanium Ti-6Al-4V is a high-strength, low-density alloy known for its excellent corrosion resistance. The powder’s biocompatible properties make it ideal for medical implants and applications in aerospace, automotive, and industrial sectors.
“At Trumpf we are dedicated to making our customer’s experience with our TruPrint systems deliver the highest level of performance and this includes the powder they use for their metal parts,” said Dennis Pede, Material engineer and scientist at Trumpf. “TruPrint systems are open systems, allowing our customers to use the powder of their choice. However, for optimal process conditions and material properties, we recommend suitable material powders and work closely with our partners. Additionally, more and more our customers are asking us for metrics on the environmental footprint of our machines and the process. Having 6K Additive’s titanium sustainable powder added as an approved qualified powder, ensures customers get the quality assurance with the added value of driving down their CO2 footprint.”
Both organisations have a strong customer base in aerospace as well as initiatives toward sustainability.
Frank Roberts, President of 6K Additive added, “We continue to hear from our aerospace and defence customers asking us to help lower the barriers for qualification for their applications. The collaboration between our two companies did just that by ensuring the machine and powder are qualified ahead of their own internal qualification, which will streamline the customer’s process into production faster. We are excited to work with the TRUMPF team on titanium and other powders in our portfolio going forward.”
6K Additive offers a full suite of metal and alloy powders, including nickel, titanium, copper, stainless steel, and refractory metals such as tungsten, niobium, and rhenium. Backed by the UniMElt production-scale microwave plasma process, the technology precisely spheroidizes metal powders while controlling the chemistry and porosity of the final product with zero contamination and high-throughput. An independent LCA study validates that the approach makes it possible to achieve reductions in energy usage and carbon emissions of 90% for its nickel-based alloys and a 75% reduction in titanium alloys.
