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Uniformity Labs

MaterialsFremont, United StatesFounded 2014· One of 961 Materials companies tracked by AMPulse

Produces ultra-dense metal powder feedstocks and associated software that enable faster, more reliable, and higher quality 3D printing on existing hardware.

CEO / Founder
Adam Hopkins
Team Size
11-50
Stage
Defunct
Total Funding
$38.35M
Latest Round
Series B
Key Investors
IP Group Inc.; BGF; Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures (SAEV); Orion Resource Partners; Founders Fund

Technology & Products

Key Products

["UniFuse™ Metal Powders (for Laser Powder Bed Fusion)","UniJet™ Metal Powders (for Binder Jetting)","Specific available alloys included 17-4PH, 316L, AlSi10Mg, Ti64, IN625, and IN718.","High-Performance Scanning Parameters (Software)"]

Technological Advantage

The primary advantage was the ability to increase 3D printing throughput by 2-3x without compromising, and often improving, the mechanical properties of the final parts. This offered a significant cost and time reduction for manufacturers, making serial production more viable.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

To significantly improve the economics, speed, and quality of metal 3D printing by providing superior powder feedstocks and print parameters that work with existing manufacturing hardware.

How They Differentiate

Uniformity Labs differentiated itself by focusing on the fundamental material science of metal powders to enhance existing hardware platforms. While many competitors are large, established metal producers, Uniformity Labs positioned itself as a technology-driven innovator whose powders could unlock higher performance on machines from various manufacturers.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Companies in industrial, aerospace, automotive, energy, and medical sectors utilizing metal additive manufacturing for serial production.

Industry Verticals

["Industrial","Aerospace/Defense","Automotive","Energy","Medical"]

Competitors

Sandvik; Hoganas; Carpenter Additive

Growth & Milestones

Major Milestones

["2014: Company founded as a spin-out from Princeton University.","2021: Raised $38.35M in a Series B funding round.","2022: Secured an additional $63.5M in Series B funding.","2024: Ceased operations and auctioned company assets."]

Notable Customers

SLM Solutions (case study on an aerospace payload bracket)

https://uniformitylabs.com

Why this company matters

Uniformity Labs developed ultra-dense metal powder feedstocks with a multimodal particle size distribution, designed to pack more efficiently in the powder bed. This fundamental materials science approach allowed existing laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) and binder jetting (BJT) machines to print faster and more consistently without sacrificing part quality. The company also supplied high-performance scanning parameters as software to optimize print settings for its powders.

The company's powder portfolio included alloys such as 17-4PH, 316L, AlSi10Mg, Ti-6Al-4V, IN625, and IN718, sold under the UniFuse and UniJet brands for LPBF and binder jetting respectively. Target customers were manufacturers in aerospace, automotive, energy, and medical sectors seeking to make serial production more economical. A case study with SLM Solutions demonstrated an aerospace payload bracket printed at higher throughput.

Uniformity Labs raised over $38 million from investors including Founders Fund, Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures, and Orion Resource Partners. It competed against established metal powder producers like Sandvik, Höganäs, and Carpenter Additive. Despite its technological differentiation, the company ceased operations in early 2024 and its assets were auctioned off, leaving an open question about whether the market for specialized powders can sustain independent materials startups.

The company's core innovation was a patented process for creating uniform, ultra-dense powders that improved packing density. This enabled 2-3x throughput increases on standard LPBF and BJT systems, a significant cost reduction for high-volume production. However, the closure highlights the challenge of scaling a materials-only business in a market where machine vendors and large metal producers also control powder supply chains.