EOS and 6K Additive Awarded America Makes Project

6K Additive, a division of 6K, has announced that the company has been selected, along with project lead EOS, for the America Makes sustainability and environmental benefits project for additive manufacturing. Other organizations included on this project include Texas A&M University, 3Degrees, Wichita State University and the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR).

The proposal directly addresses sustainable production of aerospace and defense products via additive manufacturing.

The project call, awarded through the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering’s (OSD(R&E)) Manufacturing Technology Office, totals $2.1M in funding. EOS and 6K Additive have been awarded under “Topic 6” which will utilize a portion of the $2.1M funding. The primary objectives of Topic 6 are to develop and demonstrate sustainable AM practices and products through design, material selection and development, material handling, and/or recycling. 

"When it became time to decide on a material development partner for this project, 6K Additive was quickly identified as a frontrunner,” says Jon Walker, government relations & key account manager, EOS. “Their expertise in the field of sustainable materials and proven track record supporting grant projects in the DoD community made them the clear choice for partnership."

6K Additive is suited to support this project with titanium powder manufactured using next-generation UniMelt microwave plasma reactors that are designed and patented by 6K. As evidenced by Foresight Management’ Life Cycle Assessment, 6K Additive’s titanium powder is produced with over 73% less energy than conventional methods and 78% reduction in carbon emissions.

“We are truly excited to be selected again by America Makes and equally excited to be working hand in hand with EOS and the other team members on this project,” says Frank Roberts, president of 6K Additive. “EOS and 6K Additive share the same dedication and responsibility towards sustainability in additive manufacturing and this project provides yet another proof point that our powder is the best in the industry when it comes to overall environmental benefits.”

6K Additive is a producer of AM powder made from sustainable sources—offering a  suite of metal and alloy powders, including nickel, titanium, copper, stainless steel, and refractory metals such as tungsten, niobium, and rhenium. Backed by the UniMelt production-scale microwave plasma process, the technology spheroidizes metal powders while controlling the chemistry and porosity of the final product with no contamination and high-throughput, the company claims.

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