Valimet highlights Digital Twin work at NIAR HAMR opening in Wichita
Materials
Originally reported by Metal AM
Valimet Inc., the Stockton, California-based aluminium powder producer, participated in the grand opening of the National Institute for Aviation Research's (NIAR) new Hub for Advanced Manufacturing Research (HAMR) at Wichita State University, Kansas. The 15,800 m² facility, which will host ITAR-restricted defense and proprietary industry work, features six research zones including Digital Twin, Advanced Manufacturing, and Process Automation. Valimet specifically highlighted NIAR's Digital Twin program for the B-1B Bomber, noting that the work led by Jeswin Joseph C goes beyond scanning and reverse engineering to incorporate Digital Threads, which the company described as a missing element in many commercial Digital Twin pitches.
This event is significant because it demonstrates how materials suppliers are increasingly engaging with defense-linked research infrastructure to validate their role in qualification workflows. Valimet, a powder producer rather than a printer OEM, is positioning itself within the Digital Thread conversation - a critical enabler for repeatable, traceable metal AM production in aerospace and defense. The HAMR facility itself represents a Tier S-level investment in U.S. defense AM capability, with NIAR's $400 million annual budget and 2,000 staff providing the institutional weight to move Digital Twin concepts from hype to operational reality. The B-1B Bomber program is a concrete, high-stakes test case for whether Digital Twins can bridge the gap between part scanning and full lifecycle sustainment.
For Valimet, the practical value lies in embedding its powder specifications into NIAR's Digital Thread framework, which could streamline future qualification for defense programs. The company's VP of Sales and Marketing, Luigi Alzati, attending the NIAR family dinner signals relationship-building at the program level, not just the facility tour level. The real execution challenge is whether NIAR can extend its B-1B Digital Twin methodology to other platforms without becoming a bespoke consulting exercise.
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