NX Atomics and Sciaky partner to apply EBAM for small modular reactor components

Sciaky, a subsidiary of Phillips Service Industries and a long-standing player in electron beam additive manufacturing (EBAM), has partnered with NX Atomics to produce components for small modular reactors (SMRs). The collaboration marks what the companies claim is the first application of EBAM at commercial nuclear scale. NX Atomics brings reactor design and nuclear regulatory expertise, while Sciaky contributes its large-format EBAM systems capable of depositing tens of kilograms of metal per hour in a vacuum environment. The partnership targets production of near-net-shape parts in materials such as stainless steel and nickel-based superalloys, aiming to reduce lead times and material waste compared to traditional forging and casting routes for nuclear-grade components.

This deal places Sciaky’s EBAM squarely in the energy vertical, a fragmented but increasingly active demand segment for additive manufacturing. While metal PBF-LB has dominated aerospace and medical qualification narratives, directed energy deposition (DED) processes like EBAM are finding clearer homes in large-scale, high-deposition-rate applications where speed and material efficiency outweigh fine feature resolution. The nuclear energy sector, particularly SMR development, has historically relied on long-lead-time forging and casting supply chains. If Sciaky and NX Atomics can navigate the qualification burden — including ASME Section III nuclear code compliance and NQA-1 quality assurance — this partnership could open a new production pathway for reactor internals, heat exchangers, and pressure-retaining components. The move also aligns with broader U.S. policy interest in domestic nuclear manufacturing and supply chain resilience, though the qualification timeline for nuclear safety-critical parts is measured in years, not quarters.

For Sciaky, this partnership is a logical extension of its EBAM roadmap beyond aerospace and defense into energy, but execution hinges on regulatory validation, not deposition speed. The company must demonstrate that its process can produce repeatable, inspectable, and certifiable nuclear-grade material properties — a bar far higher than typical industrial DED work. NX Atomics will need to shepherd the components through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s licensing framework, a process that will test whether AM can credibly serve safety-critical nuclear applications. The near-term signal to watch is whether the partners invest in a dedicated qualification campaign with a national lab or utility partner, rather than relying solely on internal testing. If they do, this moves from a press release to a real program with a clock and a budget.