SSAB taps SMS group to build gas atomization plant for AM metal powder production in Sweden

SSAB, the Swedish high-strength steel producer, has awarded SMS group a contract to build a new gas atomization plant at its Oxelösund site. The facility will produce high-performance steel powders for additive manufacturing, including SSAB AM’s proprietary high-strength grades. SMS group will supply an advanced induction melting furnace integrated with inert gas atomization and closed-loop gas recirculation to minimize particle collisions and ensure spherical, clean powder morphology. Jesper Vang, Head of Powder Technology at SSAB, stated the plant will enable industrial-scale supply of powders tailored for demanding AM applications, while Farhad Mostaghimi, Sales Manager at SMS group, emphasized the combined furnace and atomization expertise behind the solution.

This investment places SSAB among a growing cohort of steel mills moving upstream into AM-grade powder production, a segment that has historically been dominated by specialized powder metallurgy firms and a handful of large OEMs. The plant targets defense, industrial, and mobility verticals, aligning with the broader trend of vertically integrated material supply chains in metal AM. By controlling the full process chain from melting to atomization to classification, SSAB can offer tighter chemistry control and consistent particle size distribution, which are critical for qualification in defense and aerospace programs. The move also reflects the increasing demand for high-strength steel powders in laser powder bed fusion and directed energy deposition, where material performance and repeatability remain key adoption barriers.

For SSAB, the atomization plant is a logical extension of its core competence in high-strength steels, but execution discipline will determine whether it becomes a competitive advantage or a costly overbuild. The company must now demonstrate that its powder can match or exceed the flowability, density, and mechanical properties of established suppliers like Carpenter Technology, Sandvik, and Höganäs. Buyers in defense and industrial AM should watch for qualification timelines and batch-to-batch consistency data before committing to a new supply source.