6K Additive is receiving 27.41 million US dollars in financing from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) to significantly expand production of metal powders for additive manufacturing and powder metallurgy in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania. The capacity of the facility is to increase from the current roughly 200 to more than 1,000 tons per year. The loan complements previously committed funding under the Defense Production Act in the amount of 23.4 million US dollars.
The focus is on high-melting alloys and titanium and nickel powders for metal 3D printing, which are used in components for defense systems, hypersonic applications, nuclear technology, and other safety-critical areas.
“We are experiencing growth in demand for our refractory, titanium and nickel powders for additive manufacturing, and the EXIM financing supports scaling to meet this growth by expanding our state-of-the-art powder and alloy footprints. We also intend to expand our product offerings with ingot production for forging and castings,” said 6K Additive CEO Frank Roberts. “Key to our success is our talented employee team. The EXIM loan supports hiring the very best engineers, operators and support staff to significantly grow the organization to meet anticipated market demand over the next 3-5 years.”
The technological basis is the UniMelt process, a microwave-based plasma system that transforms metal particles into spherical powders with a narrowly defined particle size distribution. According to the company, this allows chemistry to be controlled, porosity to be minimized, and cross-contamination to be avoided, which is particularly relevant for laser- and electron-beam-based powder bed processes.
The loan is being granted under the “Make More in America Initiative,” through which EXIM has supported projects since 2021 that are intended to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity and critical supply chains. As usual, the commitment is subject to the conclusion of final negotiated contractual documents. As part of the expansion, around 50 additional qualified positions in engineering, operations, and administration are planned in Burgettstown.
“This expansion is proof that American manufacturing is innovating and growing,” said EXIM Chairman John Jovanovic. “My first Board action is about rebuilding America’s industrial base, securing critical supply chains, and making sure America leads in the industries of the future. Partnering with the Department of War on this effort underscores EXIM’s role as an economic tool to effectuate President Trump’s agenda for revitalizing our domestic manufacturing and bringing supply chain security to America.”
“This U.S. Export-Import Bank loan will scale domestic production capacity for advanced metals needed for defense applications and strategic economic sectors,” said the Honorable Michael Cadenazzi, the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy. “This loan also builds upon the Department of War’s 2023 Defense Production Act Title III investment in 6K Additive and exemplifies the whole-of-government approach to building and scaling critical mineral capabilities.”
For the 3D printing market, the expansion means an additional supply of qualified metal powders produced in the United States – particularly for applications in which traceability, safety requirements, and long-term supply contracts play a central role.
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