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Metal Powder Works to collaborate with Westinghouse Electric on the use of high-quality additives in nuclear sector

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By Imelda Cotton - 
Metal Powder Works ASX MPW Agreement Westinghouse Advanced Nuclear Applications
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Metal Powder Works (ASX: MPW) will allow Westinghouse Electric to assess its high-quality metal powders for potential use as additively manufactured components at Westinghouse’s nuclear energy operations.

A contract signed between the two companies has highlighted the growing importance of additive manufacturing in the global nuclear market.

Analysts are forecasting this market will exceed US$36 billion by year-end and experience more than 20% compound annual growth through to 2030, driven by the push for carbon-free energy and small modular reactor deployments.

Significant milestone

Metal Powder managing director John Barnes said the agreement marked a significant milestone for the company.

“The nuclear sector places some of the most stringent demands on material quality and reflects the precision and reliability of our innovative production process,” he said.

“We believe additive manufacturing has a transformative role to play in next-generation nuclear technologies and we are proud to be assessed by an industry leader to help deliver those solutions.”

Mr Barnes said the Westinghouse contract would build on the company’s continued engagement with a number of major industrial and government partners in the aerospace, defence and energy sectors.

Reverse merger and listing

Established in 2017, Metal Powder Works commenced trading on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in March after raising $10 million at $0.20 per share through a reverse merger with South Australian welding company K-TIG.

“The ASX understands minerals and metals better than any market anywhere,” Mr Barnes said at the time.

“Being a part of it is significant to me personally and also professionally with Metal Powder Works as we move to disrupt the global metal powders market.”

DirectPowder technology

Metal Powder has revolutionised the industry with the introduction of its patented DirectPowder technology, which converts premium bar stock into high-quality metal powders without using heat.

The non-thermal approach delivers significant advantages over traditional atomisation methods, including energy efficiency and substantially higher yields of approximately 95%.

DirectPowder can reportedly reduce energy usage and carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 83% over gas atomisation and as much as 89% compared to water atomisation.

The product has already been used in multiple additive manufacturing processes for customers and channels including the US Department of Defence, Powders on Demand, 6K Additive and Toho Titanium.