6K Additive expands nickel powder capacity with Uniformity Labs atomiser, targets 800 metric tons by end of 2026

6K Additive has acquired a metal powder atomiser from the Uniformity Labs bankruptcy auction, integrating it into its Hayward, California facility since last year with production ramping through 2026. The atomiser, capable of approximately 50% prime-cut yield within target particle size distribution, supplements 6K Additive's existing reactive material capability (titanium, tantalum, niobium, C103) by providing a steady feedstock source for nickel-based alloys. CEO Frank Roberts confirmed the atomiser will eventually relocate to the company's Burgettstown, Pennsylvania site as part of a broader facility consolidation from six US locations down to two, with construction already underway. Six additional UniMelt systems will bring the total to ten, targeting a production capacity increase from 200 metric tons annually to 800 metric tons by end of 2026, with an additional 200 metric tons by 2028 via a refractory production facility.

This acquisition addresses a specific materials-process gap that has constrained 6K Additive's market reach. While the company's UniMelt process efficiently embrittles reactive metals like titanium through hydrogen thermal cycling, nickel's high-temperature stability prevents that approach, limiting feedstock supply for one of metal AM's most demanded alloy families. The Uniformity Labs atomiser, combined with inherited sieving and classification assets, enables 6K Additive to claim near-100% yield by feeding off-sized particles back through UniMelt. This positions the company to capture more of the defense and suppressor market demand that Roberts cites as driving Q2 orders forward into Q1 and Q3 orders into Q2. The Defense Logistics Agency contract for converting domestic munitions scrap into tungsten alloy powder further demonstrates how 6K Additive is aligning with the defense sector's domestic supply chain requirements, a politically accelerated trend in 2025-2026.

For buyers evaluating metal powder suppliers, the practical implication is straightforward: 6K Additive now offers a broader, more consistent nickel portfolio alongside its established reactive metals line, with a clear capacity roadmap through 2028. The company reports a $250 million annual turn pipeline with $70 million already qualified, targeting north of $130 million in annual revenue by 2028. The key execution risk is whether the Burgettstown consolidation and UniMelt installation timeline holds, as capacity coming online late 2026 and early 2027 will determine whether those qualifications convert to revenue at the projected pace. For now, this is a disciplined capacity expansion tied to demonstrated demand, not speculative overbuild.