South Korea's SeAH SST Joins America Makes: $160M Texas Plant to Produce 6,000 Tons of Specialty Alloy/AM Powder in H2
On August 4, 2026, SeAH Superalloy Technologies (SST), the U.S. subsidiary of South Korea's SeAH Besteel Holdings, officially announced its membership in America Makes, the U.S. National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute. SST also disclosed that its specialty alloy and additive manufacturing powder plant in Temple, Texas, is nearing completion. The project, with a total investment of KRW 2.13 trillion (approximately $160 million), is designed to produce 6,000 tons annually, covering a full range of AM powders including nickel-based superalloys, titanium alloys, and cobalt-chromium alloys, with commercial production slated to begin in the second half of 2026. SeAH Besteel Holdings, a specialty steel and alloy manufacturer under the SeAH Group, holds over 40% of the domestic special steel market in Korea. This move into the North American AM powder market via its U.S. subsidiary SST marks a key step in its transition from traditional specialty steel to high-end powder metallurgy. The SST Texas facility will be equipped with multiple VIGA and EIGA atomization systems capable of producing aerospace-grade spherical powders such as IN718, IN625, Ti64, and CoCrMo, with target customers including U.S. aerospace engine manufacturers like GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Boeing. America Makes, a public-private partnership for additive manufacturing led by the U.S. Department of Defense, counts GE Additive, Lockheed Martin, and NASA among its members. SST's membership signifies the official entry of Korean capital into the North American aerospace-grade AM powder supply chain, which has been dominated by American and European/Japanese companies. This move is expected to reshape the competitive landscape of the North American aerospace powder market, currently led by Carpenter Technology (U.S.), ATI Metals (U.S.), and Aubert & Duval (France). For powder buyers, SST's 6,000-ton capacity, once operational, will significantly boost global supply of high-end AM powders, particularly nickel-based superalloys (IN718/IN625) and titanium alloys (Ti64), potentially exerting competitive pressure on the current pricing structure dominated by Carpenter, ATI, and Aubert & Duval. For domestic powder exporters, SST's America Makes membership means its products will gain priority access to the U.S. defense supply chain certification system, presenting direct competition. Domestic powder companies should monitor SST's certification progress and its pricing strategies for Asia-Pacific customers.
2026-08-04
3D Systems Beats Q2 Revenue Expectations at $94.6M, Metal AM Drives Growth, Shares Up 9% After Hours
3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) reported Q2 2026 results on August 4, 2026, with revenue of $94.6M (down 0.3% YoY, but up 1.4% excluding the software divestiture), slightly above the analyst consensus of $93.76M. Non-GAAP EPS came in at -$0.04, beating expectations of -$0.05, and Adjusted EBITDA was -$0.8M, an improvement of 81.8% YoY. The company held $129M in cash as of June 30. Shares rose ~9% in after-hours trading. Metal additive manufacturing was the standout growth driver this quarter. CEO Jeffrey Graves highlighted double-digit growth in both metal and polymer hardware printer systems, with metal 3D printing expanding its footprint across four core markets: medical technology, aerospace & defense, and data center infrastructure. Segment breakdown: Healthcare solutions generated $48.1M (+6.8% YoY, 50.8% of revenue), with med tech growing over 20%. Industrial solutions brought in $46.5M (-6.7% YoY), but aerospace & defense and data center infrastructure each grew over 20%. 3D Systems is in a strategic transition from polymer-centric to a balanced metal AM portfolio, and the acceleration in metal hardware shipments in Q2 validates this strategy. Q3 guidance calls for revenue of $96-99M and Adjusted EBITDA between -$3M and $1M, reflecting management's confidence in continued improvement in the second half. The company is also advancing a $28M government-funded metal printer R&D project. Value for powder buyers: 1) Double-digit metal hardware printer growth directly boosts demand for medical- and aerospace-grade powders such as titanium alloys (Ti64), nickel-based superalloys (IN718/IN625), and cobalt-chrome (CoCrMo) — a growing installed base of 3D Systems equipment means sustained increases in powder consumption. 2) The 20% growth in med tech is especially positive for dental and orthopedic implant powders (CoCrMo/Ti64 ELI); the 20% aerospace growth benefits superalloy powders. 3) Watch for tender activity from 3D Systems' powder suppliers for its equipment, as well as potential new powder specifications arising from the $28M government R&D program.
2026-08-04
Heat Treatment Unlocks Optimal LPBF Parameters for Zr-2.5Nb Alloy: 800°C/2h Achieves 73% Ductility Improvement
A study published in MDPI Metals (August 2026) investigated the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process for Zr-2.5Nb alloy and identified the optimal parameter set: laser power 160 W, scan speed 1400 mm/s, layer thickness 30 μm, and hatch spacing 120 μm (volumetric energy density 31.7 J/mm³), followed by heat treatment at 800°C for 2 hours with air cooling. The heat treatment transformed the as-built acicular α' martensite into a coarsened lamellar α+β duplex structure (with β-Zr area fraction of ~6.0%), increasing uniform elongation from 4.02% to 6.94% (+73%) while maintaining excellent mechanical properties (yield strength 792 MPa, ultimate tensile strength 881 MPa). Zr-2.5Nb is a traditional material for nuclear reactor pressure tubes (CANDU-type) and corrosion-resistant chemical equipment (in acetic/hydrochloric acid environments), offering outstanding neutron transparency and corrosion resistance. However, systematic research on LPBF of Zr-2.5Nb has been scarce—primarily due to the high reactivity of zirconium alloy powders and the brittleness of LPBF-fabricated parts. This study is the first to establish a complete mapping of process window to microstructure to mechanical properties for LPBF Zr-2.5Nb, demonstrating that post-heat treatment at 800°C/2h can significantly improve ductility without notably compromising strength. This breakthrough addresses the key bottleneck of brittleness in LPBF-fabricated zirconium alloys and provides actionable process specifications for industrial adoption. For the nuclear industry, LPBF enables the integrated fabrication of complex internal flow channel components, replacing traditional multi-part welding processes and enhancing safety and reliability. The research team, from the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Queen's University in Canada, has extensive experience in additive manufacturing of nuclear materials. For powder buyers: Zr-2.5Nb falls under the specialty rare metal powder category, with very few global suppliers (e.g., ATI in the US, Framatome in France), and its price is significantly higher than conventional titanium alloy powders. As demand for additively manufactured zirconium components grows in nuclear and chemical sectors, this category may become a blue-ocean market for high-value-added powders. Domestic Chinese companies capable of producing zirconium alloy powders (e.g., Xi'an Sailong, AVIC Metel) should monitor early demand for LPBF zirconium powders in the nuclear industry.
2026-08-04