October 31, 2022- 6K Additive, which produces engineered materials for additive manufacturing and lithium-ion batteries from its UniMelt plasma technology, plans to increase production capacity for additive manufacturing powders. 

The plan includes 20,000 square feet of additional powder production capacity with four new UniMelt microwave plasma systems as well as the addition of a 15,000-square-toot material feedstock preparation building. Over the last 12 months, 6K Additive has seen rapid growth in the demand for its nickel, titanium and refractory powders and this capacity increase will help the company meet customers’ needs.

“Global unrest has shed a major spotlight on our nation's supply chain vulnerability for critical materials,” said 6K Additive President Frank Roberts.

Adding the feedstock preparation facility to its Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, campus provides 6K Additive with vertical integration of feedstock sizing for nickel and titanium in the same location. This will help to streamline operations, provide faster delivery, and ultimate control and quality of the powder produced. The Burgettstown plant already produces nickel grades 718 and 625, titanium-64, stainless steel and copper as well as an ability to produce aluminum alloys. 6K Additive runs two dedicated UniMelt production systems in North Andover, Massachusetts, as well, where it  produces tungsten, rhenium and niobium-based alloy powders for hypersonic, defense, and rocket applications.