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Elementum 3D

MaterialsErie, United StatesFounded 2014· One of 971 Materials companies tracked by AMPulse

Develops and supplies high-performance metal, ceramic, and composite powders for additive manufacturing, enabling the printing of previously unprintable materials.

CEO / Founder
Jacob Nuechterlein
Team Size
11-50
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$23.6M
Latest Round
Series B
Key Investors
Conconi Growth Partners; Sumitomo; United States Department of Defense; AM Ventures; Colorado School of Mines; National Science Foundation

Technology & Products

Key Products

["Aluminum Powders (e.g., A1000-RAM10, A6061-RAM2, A7050-RAM2)","Copper Powders","Nickel Powders","Steel Powders","Tantalum Powders","Custom alloy development services"]

Technological Advantage

The RAM technology allows Elementum 3D to produce a wider range of printable, high-performance materials that were previously unavailable for additive manufacturing. This opens new applications for lightweighting, improved performance, and part consolidation, giving them a significant competitive edge.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Elementum 3D's patented Reactive Additive Manufacturing (RAM) technology enables the creation of materials with superior properties, such as high strength and performance at elevated temperatures, that are not possible with traditional manufacturing methods.

How They Differentiate

Elementum 3D differentiates itself through its proprietary RAM technology, which allows for the creation of novel material compositions with enhanced properties, as opposed to competitors who may focus on producing standard metal alloy powders.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Organizations in high-performance sectors requiring advanced materials for additive manufacturing, including aerospace, defense, automotive (motorsports), and industrial applications.

Industry Verticals

["Aerospace","Defense","Automotive","Industrial","Energy","Healthcare"]

Competitors

Metalysis; Tekna Plasma Systems; Equispheres

Growth & Milestones

Major Milestones

["Granted patents for Reactive Additive Manufacturing (RAM) technology in the US, Canada, and Australia.","Achieved AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 certifications, crucial for the aerospace industry.","Selected by the US Air Force for the Enterprise-Wide Agile Acquisition Contract (EWAAC).","Partnered with NASA to advance space exploration technology.","Celebrated 10 years in business in October 2024."]

Notable Customers

University of Utah, Penn State Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) (for NASA STTR Phase I contract), Colorado School of Mines (contributed resources and learning opportunities).

https://www.elementum3d.com

Recent coverage of Elementum 3D

Why this company matters

Elementum 3D occupies a specialized niche in the additive manufacturing materials market by developing high-performance metal, ceramic, and composite powders that address a fundamental limitation of conventional AM: the narrow processability of standard alloys. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Erie, Colorado, the company targets organizations in aerospace, defense, automotive, energy, and healthcare that require materials with superior strength and elevated-temperature performance not achievable through traditional manufacturing or standard powder feedstocks.

The core technological differentiator is Reactive Additive Manufacturing (RAM), a patented process that synthesizes advanced alloys and metal matrix composites in-situ during laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) or directed energy deposition (DED). By creating fine-grained, equiaxed microstructures, RAM enables the printing of aluminum alloys like A6061-RAM2 and A7050-RAM2, copper, nickel, steel, and tantalum powders that are otherwise crack-prone or unweldable. This in-situ reaction approach expands the design space for lightweighting and part consolidation in high-performance applications.

Elementum 3D serves a mix of research institutions and industrial end users. Notable customers include the University of Utah, Penn State Applied Research Laboratory (under a NASA STTR Phase I contract), and the Colorado School of Mines. The company has also secured partnerships with NASA, the US Air Force, SLM Solutions, and 3D Systems, and holds AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 certifications critical for aerospace qualification. Competitors such as Metalysis, Tekna Plasma Systems, and Equispheres focus on standard alloy powders, whereas Elementum 3D's RAM technology creates novel material compositions with enhanced properties.

The company's strategic moat rests on its IP portfolio, with patents awarded in the US, Canada, and Australia for RAM, and on its ability to offer custom alloy development services. With $23.6 million in total funding from investors including Conconi Growth Partners, Sumitomo, AM Ventures, and the US Department of Defense, Elementum 3D is positioned to capture demand for high-temperature, lightweight materials in aerospace primes and defense programs. A key open question is how quickly the company can scale production volumes to meet the cost and throughput expectations of automotive tier-1s and industrial OEMs beyond its current research-heavy customer base.