Metal Powder Works (ASX:MPW) has met a milestone in a planned product development, which doubles the capacity of the DirectPowder process.
With a manufacturing base in Pittsburgh, US, Metal Powder Works specialises in the production of ‘high-quality’ metal powders for additive manufacturing and other advanced applications.
The $122 million market capitalisation company has developed a patented, non-thermal powder production process known as DirectPowder. The process converts premium bar stock into quality powder for a variety of materials and applications, significantly improving yield and affordability.
Metal Powder Works says the existing equipment can now produce twice as much powder without additional capex investment.
“The development is attainable through the advancement in tooling and process optimisation. The milestone is one of many to come that will scale the technology to meet expected demand,” the company says.
The company also completed a second milestone that increased material utilisation. This change minimises material waste and increases cycle time, with more bar being converted to powder, reducing the production cycle time up to 40%.
Both milestones are part of a planned development program that can be utilised on the existing DirectPowder process equipment and the new system currently in development.
These developments increase capacity to over 100 tonnes of copper, nickel aluminium bronze, and copper-nickel bronze alloys as the company looks to establish itself as a US-based production source for the Defence Industrial Base (DIB).
Metal Powder Works has already provided trial amounts of the CuNi Bronze for US naval applications.
Copper-nickel and nickel aluminum bronze alloys are highly valued for their exceptional resistance to seawater corrosion, strength, and wear resistance. The North American copper-nickel market, valued at $594million in 2022, is projected to grow to $803 million by 2028, driven by expanding marine and industrial sectors.
In 2024, Metal Powder Works and HAMR Industries worked together to manufacture a representative valve body using CuNi powder and cold spray.
Overall, the global metal powder market was estimated at US$6.92 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% due to increasing demand for additive manufacturing components in aerospace and defence.
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: Metal Powder
