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OPM

MaterialsSouth Windsor, CT, USAFounded 2000· One of 955 Materials companies tracked by AMPulse

Develops proprietary PEKK-based materials and processes for high-performance additive manufacturing, producing FDA-cleared patient-specific implants and aerospace components.

CEO / Founder
Scott DeFelice
Team Size
11-50
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$25M
Key Investors
Hexcel Corporation, Scalpel Ventures

Technology & Products

Key Products

Proprietary PEKK-based materials and processes for high-performance additive manufacturing, producing FDA-cleared patient-specific implants and aerospace components. Collaboration with SINTX Technologies for orthopedic and dental coatings, including implants for trauma reconstruction, hip and knee replacements, and spine implants.

Technological Advantage

Proprietary OXPEKK® composition and HPAM™ process achieve higher performance (e.g., B-Basis allowables for aerospace) and regulatory clearances (6 FDA 510(k)s), protected by patents.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Enables production of lightweight, strong, and biocompatible 3D-printed parts that replace metal, reducing weight by up to 70% and cutting lead times from months to weeks for custom implants and aerospace components.

How They Differentiate

OPM's PEKK-based materials offer superior strength-to-weight ratio and biocompatibility vs. standard polymers, with exclusive FDA clearances for 3D-printed implants and aerospace qualifications that competitors lack.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Medical device manufacturers, aerospace OEMs, industrial companies requiring high-performance thermoplastic parts

Industry Verticals

Medical; Aerospace; Defense; Industrial; Energy

Competitors

Rowland Technologies, Polymer Resources Ltd., Westminster Tool, Laserstar Technologies.

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Revenue estimated $12M-$15M; 6 FDA 510(k) clearances for implants; ISO 13485, AS9100C certifications.

Major Milestones

Founded in 2000; First FDA 510(k) clearance for 3D-printed polymeric implants (2013); Hexcel acquisition of Aerospace & Defense business (2017); Partnership with SINTX for composite coatings (2022); Creation of separate orthopedic business entity (2023)

Notable Customers

Boeing; Sovereign Medical Ltd

https://www.oxfordpm.com

Recent coverage of OPM

Why this company matters

Oxford Performance Materials (OPM) occupies a distinctive position as the first company to qualify additive manufacturing for PEKK polymer, a high-performance thermoplastic that competes with metal in weight-critical applications. Founded in 2000, the company has built a proprietary material synthesis and process technology stack that enables production of lightweight, biocompatible parts for medical and aerospace end markets.

OPM's core technology centers on its OXPEKK composition and HPAM process, which achieve B-Basis allowables for aerospace and have secured six FDA 510(k) clearances for 3D-printed polymeric implants. The company uses laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) to fabricate patient-specific implants for trauma reconstruction, hip and knee replacements, and spine applications, as well as structural aerospace components. A partnership with SINTX Technologies adds ceramic-polymer composite coatings for orthopedic and dental use.

The company serves medical device manufacturers, aerospace primes like Boeing, and industrial customers requiring high-performance thermoplastic parts. Its PEKK materials offer a strength-to-weight ratio that can reduce part weight by up to 70% compared to metal, while cutting lead times from months to weeks for custom implants. OPM holds ISO 13485 and AS9100C certifications, with estimated revenue of $12 million to $15 million.

OPM's competitive moat rests on its exclusive FDA clearances for 3D-printed PEKK implants and aerospace qualifications that competitors such as Rowland Technologies and Polymer Resources Ltd. lack. The 2017 acquisition of its Aerospace & Defense business by Hexcel Corporation and a 2023 restructuring into a separate orthopedic entity signal ongoing strategic evolution. The key open question is whether OPM can scale its proprietary materials beyond niche medical and aerospace applications into higher-volume industrial production.