A new 30-month agreement with 6K Additive strengthens ADDMAN’s domestic supply of Nickel Alloy 718 (Ni718), helping secure material availability as customer programs scale.
Production capacity is only as reliable as the supply chain behind it.
As customer programs move through qualification and into sustained production, access to critical materials becomes part of the manufacturing equation. Available machine capacity matters, but so does having the material required to keep that capacity running.
ADDMAN has entered into a new 30-month supply agreement with 6K Additive for Nickel Alloy 718 (Ni718) powder. The agreement includes dedicated stocking support and strengthens domestic material availability for ADDMAN production supporting aerospace, defense and energy applications.
For ADDMAN, it represents another investment ahead of customer demand — addressing a potential production constraint before it reaches the manufacturing floor.
Why Ni718 Supply Matters
Nickel Alloy 718 is widely used in demanding aerospace, defense and energy applications because of its strength, corrosion resistance and performance at elevated temperatures. It is well suited for components expected to perform reliably in extreme operating environments.
For the programs that depend on those components, reliable material availability isn’t simply a purchasing consideration.
Production requirements can extend for years. Volumes can increase. Schedules can change. And disruptions or long lead times upstream can quickly become constraints downstream.
A resilient domestic supply of high-quality Ni718 powder provides greater security and predictability as those programs scale, while reducing exposure to potential disruptions in global material supply chains.
By securing long-term material availability and dedicated stocking support through 6K Additive, ADDMAN is strengthening the supply infrastructure behind its own expanding metal additive production requirements.
Building the Supply Chain Around Production
The 30-month agreement has a minimum value of $8.1 million and could reach $10.8 million as demand grows.
Through the partnership, 6K Additive will supply ADDMAN with domestically produced Ni718 powder manufactured using its UniMelt® microwave plasma technology.
“At ADDMAN, we push the boundaries of what’s possible in manufacturing, which requires partners like 6K Additive who are equally committed to excellence and innovation,” said Joe Calmese, CEO of ADDMAN.
The long-term structure provides greater visibility into material availability as customer requirements grow. For customers, the value is straightforward: a more resilient supply chain supporting the manufacturing capacity their programs depend on.
Because scaling production requires more than having machines available. It requires making sure the inputs feeding those machines can scale with them.
Extending the Material Lifecycle
The agreement also includes a structured revert buy-back program.
Through the program, 6K Additive will purchase revert powder from ADDMAN and process that material through its UniMelt technology to produce new, high-purity metal powder.
The program supports a more circular powder lifecycle while creating an additional pathway for material already moving through ADDMAN’s manufacturing operations.
It also strengthens the broader relationship between material supply and production — considering not only how critical feedstock enters the manufacturing system, but how material can continue to create value throughout its lifecycle.
Investing Ahead of Demand
Manufacturing at scale means identifying potential constraints before they become production problems.
Machine capacity is one part of that equation. Material availability is another.
As customer programs move from qualification into sustained production, ADDMAN continues to invest in the manufacturing infrastructure required to support them — from production capacity and automation to critical material supply and long-term supplier partnerships.
The agreement with 6K Additive is another piece of that strategy: securing reliable domestic access to a material our customers’ programs depend on before demand reaches the production floor.