6K Additive Secures $1.95M Phase II Contract from US Defense Logistics Agency for Strategic Metal Recycling.

6K Additive Secures $1.95M Phase II Contract from US Defense Logistics Agency for Strategic Metal Recycling. 6K Additive, headquartered in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, has been awarded an 18-month contract to convert domestic scrap metal into high-value powders for additive manufacturing. The scope of work includes the collection of Nickel, Titanium, Tungsten, and C103 Niobium alloys from Department of Defense depots, the development of an automated robotic sorting system, and cold spray trials to validate mechanical properties of the upcycled materials. CEO Frank Roberts confirmed the initiative aims to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains for critical defense components.

This contract positions 6K Additive as a critical node in the domestic defense supply chain, addressing the vulnerability of relying on imported strategic metals from geopolitically sensitive regions. By utilizing its proprietary UniMelt plasma technology, the company transforms low-value scrap into high-performance spherical powders suitable for demanding defense applications. This approach directly competes with traditional virgin metal powder suppliers by offering a circular, domestic alternative that aligns with the Department of Defense's mandate to secure the defense industrial base. The project addresses the significant volume of metal waste generated by aviation depots, which currently produce over 60,000 pounds of mixed scrap weekly.

6K Additive must now demonstrate that its upcycled powders consistently meet the rigorous performance standards required for critical defense hardware. The success of this 18-month program hinges on the effective integration of automated sorting and the scalability of the UniMelt process to handle diverse scrap streams. Buyers and stakeholders should focus on the certification results of these materials, as successful validation will provide a repeatable model for domestic material sovereignty in the additive manufacturing sector.