Securing material availability is considered one of the key challenges for industrial metal 3D printing, particularly for safety-critical applications. Against this backdrop, IperionX Limited has announced the completion of a multi-year funding agreement with the US Department of Defense. Through the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program (IBAS), the final tranche of previously committed funding has now been disbursed, bringing the total award to USD 47.1 million.
The funds will be used to expand IperionX’s Titanium Manufacturing Campus, which encompasses not only primary and secondary metallurgy but also advanced manufacturing technologies. The goal is to achieve an annual production capacity of up to 1,400 tonnes of titanium. This step is relevant for additive manufacturing, as laser-based powder bed processes in particular depend on a stable supply of high-quality titanium alloys. According to the company, the expansion will include both conventional semi-finished products and feedstock-capable material for 3D printing.
In addition, the US government has provided IperionX with approximately 290 metric tonnes of surplus titanium alloy scrap of the Ti-6Al-4V type. This material corresponds to roughly one and a half years of raw material demand at a current throughput of 200 tonnes per year. IperionX relies on recycling and reprocessing methods to reintegrate the scrap into the manufacturing cycle, which is particularly significant for sustainable supply chains in the additive manufacturing environment.
The IBAS program aims to reduce dependence on imports and ensure a reliable domestic supply of critical materials. With the funding package now completed, IperionX sees itself in a position to further industrialize its titanium platform and, in doing so, improve the prerequisites for scalable applications in metal 3D printing.
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