6K Additive Signs Supply Agreement with Siemens Energy

6K Additive signed a global long‑term supply agreement under which Siemens Energy will supply spent nickel alloy powder from its additive manufacturing facilities to 6K Additive for use as feedstock in the company's UniMelt microwave plasma production system.

This agreement enables the productive reuse of nickel‑based superalloy revert material that would otherwise remain in low‑value recycling streams. 6K Additive converts this feedstock into virgin, additive‑manufacturing‑ready metal powder using its advanced UniMelt process, supporting material efficiency and reduced environmental impact across the AM supply chain.

6K Additive has processed close to 20 tons of nickel superalloy powder originating from Siemens Energy, with the  material supplied into the additive manufacturing market. The collaboration demonstrates how industrial revert materials can be upcycled into quality powders, contributing to a sustainable metal AM ecosystem.

"At Siemens Energy, sustainability and responsible resource use are integral to how we approach advanced manufacturing," says Steve Sarcander, head of Finance, Additive Manufacturing of Siemens Energy. "By supplying our revert material into 6K Additive's production process, we are supporting circular material flows while helping to reduce waste and emissions associated with metal powder production. Partnerships like this play an important role in strengthening the overall additive manufacturing value chain."

Frank Roberts, CEO of 6K Additive, adds, "Siemens Energy is a strong example of an industrial partner committed to advancing circularity. Their consistent and high‑quality feedstock enables us to produce premium nickel alloy powders using our UniMelt process, delivering meaningful reductions in energy use and carbon emissions while supporting the growing demand for sustainable AM materials."

6K Additive's UniMelt microwave plasma platform is a production‑scale system capable of converting certified‑chemistry machined millings, turnings, and recycled feedstock into premium, AM‑ready metal powder. It is a production‑scale microwave plasma system, offering a uniform, contamination‑free processing zone. According to a recent life‑cycle assessment (LCA) study, 6K Additive's process can reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions by more than 90% for nickel‑based alloys compared to conventional powder production methods.

Organizations interested in collaborating with 6K Additive on specialized powder requirements are encouraged to visit 6KAdditive.com.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.