Metal Powder Works
Metal Powder Works produces high-quality metal powders for additive manufacturing and advanced manufacturing using its patented DirectPowder™ solid-state process, serving defense, aerospace, nuclear, naval, and automotive customers.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Metal Powder Works does
Metal Powder Works Limited (ASX:MPW) is a specialty materials company that produces high-quality metal powders for additive manufacturing, cold spray, powder metallurgy, and thermal spray applications. Founded in 2017 by aerospace and defense veterans John Barnes (CEO) and Chris Aldridge (CTO), the company developed and patented the DirectPowder™ process — a room-temperature, solid-state mechanical process that converts metal bar stock into powder without melting. The process is differentiated by >95% yield of desired particle size distribution versus 20-50% for conventional atomization, maintenance of bar-stock microstructure and temper, elimination of contamination from inert gas or evaporative losses, and up to 90% reduction in CO2 emissions. MPW's product portfolio spans more than 20 unique alloys across aluminum (e.g., 6061, 7075, 7050), copper (OFHC, CuNi 70/30, CuCrZr, naval brass), and specialty alloys (CP-Ti, Zircaloy-4, Silver, Kirksite), supported by a six-machine production fleet at its Pittsburgh (Neighborhood 91) global headquarters, with Australian registered offices in Perth and a US business office in Clinton, Pennsylvania.
The company sells through direct quote-based sales to defense, aerospace, nuclear, naval, automotive, and medical customers, complemented by Powder Partnership Agreements (Austal USA, Centreline, Jet Metals, Titomic, 6K Additive, Solvus Global) and Developer Network placements of DirectPowder systems. Hardware revenue comes from containerized Expeditionary DirectPowder systems designed for austere-environment deployment (an approximately A$1M unit sold to the US Naval Postgraduate School). MPW listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in February 2025 via a reverse merger with K-TIG Advanced Welding Systems, raising A$10 million. Named enterprise and government customers include Westinghouse Electric, US Navy, UK Ministry of Defence, Austal USA, HAMR Industries, Jet Metals, Centreline, Solvus Global, and the University of Pittsburgh. The company reported a A$6.2M loss in its latest financial year and is investing in capacity scaling toward 800MT installed capacity by 2028. Recognition includes 2024 Material Company of the Year (3D Printing Industry Awards) and the 2025 AM Industry Achievement Award from SME's Additive Manufacturing Technical Community.
Metal Powder Works firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Metal Powder Works
- Legal name
- Metal Powder Works Limited
- Website
- https://metalpowderworks.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Metal Powder Works produces high-quality metal powders for additive manufacturing and advanced manufacturing using its patented DirectPowder™ solid-state process, serving defense, aerospace, nuclear, naval, and automotive customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Metal Powder Works industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Metal Powder Production for Additive Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing (3335), Primary Metal Manufacturing (331)
- SIC
- Metalworkg Machinery & Equipment (3540), Miscellaneous Primary Metal Products (3390)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Metal Powders (LPBF/DMLS/EBM) (IMAAABAE)
Keywords
Where Metal Powder Works is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Metal Powder Works business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Metal Powder Sales: Direct sales of metal powders to customers across aluminum alloys, copper alloys, and specialty alloys (CP-Ti, Zircaloy). Powders sold for additive manufacturing, cold spray, powder metallurgy, and thermal spray applications. Custom alloy development available.
- Expeditionary DirectPowder Systems: Sale of containerized, mobile DirectPowder production systems for remote/austere environment deployment. Approximately $1M AUD contract with US Naval Postgraduate School for expeditionary system.
- Powder Partnership Agreements: Strategic partnerships with minimum annual volumes, pricing, and lead times. Includes commercial offtake agreements with partners like Austal USA upon successful development completion.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Powder Quotation |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Metal Powder Works product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Metal Powder Works produces metal powders for additive manufacturing, cold spray, and powder metallurgy using its patented DirectPowder™ process — a room-temperature, solid-state mechanical conversion of metal bar stock into powder without melting. The company sells a portfolio of 25+ alloy powders (aluminum, copper, specialty) plus containerized Expeditionary DirectPowder systems for remote deployment, targeting defense, aerospace, naval, nuclear, and automotive customers.
Product overview
Metal Powder Works is a specialty materials company that produces high-quality metal powders for additive manufacturing and powder metallurgy applications. The core offering is the DirectPowder™ System, a patented room-temperature solid-state process that converts metal bar stock into powder without melting. The company offers an extensive powder portfolio exceeding 25 materials across three main product lines: Aluminum Alloys (Al-Sc, 6061, 7050, 5083, 7075, 4032, 7A76, 2219, 2024), Copper Alloys (OFHC Cu, C14500, C18150, C72900, C63000, C71500, C90300, C86300, C95400, C96400, C46400, C70600), and Specialty Alloys (CP-Ti, Zircaloy-4, Silver, Kirksite). The company also offers an Expeditionary containerized version of the DirectPowder system for remote operations and has developed NextGen production machines achieving 100MT annual capacity.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- DirectPowder™ System Patented, room-temperature solid-state mechanical process that converts metal bar stock into high-quality metal powder feedstock for additive manufacturing without melting. Achieves >95% yield of desired particle size distribution, maintains the microstructure and mechanical properties of bar stock, and reduces CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to atomization.
- Aluminum Alloy Powders High-strength aluminum alloy powders including Al-Sc, 6061, 7050, 5083, 7075, 4032, 7A76, 2219, and 2024 produced via DirectPowder™ for additive manufacturing and powder metallurgy applications.
- Copper Alloy Powders Copper and copper alloy powders including OFHC Cu, C14500, C18150 CuCrZr, C72900 CuNi15Sn8, C63000 NAB, C71500 CuNi 70/30, C90300 Navy G, C86300 Mn Bronze, C95400 Al Bronze, C96400 CuNi 70/30, C46400 Naval Brass, and C70600 CuNi 90/10 produced via DirectPowder™ for AM, cold spray, and naval applications.
- Specialty Alloy Powders Specialty alloy powders including CP-Ti (commercially pure titanium), Zircaloy-4, Silver, and Kirksite ZnAl4Cu3 for nuclear, aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing applications.
- Expeditionary DirectPowder System Mobile, containerized version of the DirectPowder system designed for rapid deployment in remote, austere, or contested environments. Enables on-site production of high-quality metal powders for additive manufacturing and cold spray operations without reliance on land-based supply chains.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to atomization
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Metal Powder Works
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Metal Powder Works technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Metal Powder Works partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Westinghouse Electric CompanycoreMulti-year product development collaboration focused on nuclear additive manufacturing powder production. Building on successful results from previous phases, the partnership uses MPW's patented DirectPowder process to produce specialty alloys (CP-Ti, Zircaloy) for nuclear applications. Reflects Westinghouse's continued confidence in MPW's powder production technology.
- Additive Manufacturing Solutions (AMS)coreUK-based parts manufacturer collaborating with MPW on Project TAMPA for titanium component production using Laser Powder Bed Fusion technology. Collaboration between UK MOD and US Department of Defense.
- UK Ministry of Defence (Project TAMPA)coreMPW selected as US-based production node within UK MOD's strategic defence additive manufacturing supply network under Project TAMPA. Purchase order for titanium component manufactured via LPBF using MPW's in-house powder production. First engagement with NATO defence programme, validating DirectPowder titanium capability for defence-grade applications.
- Centreline (Windsor) LimitedflagshipPowder Partner agreement to collaboratively develop advanced metal powder materials for cold spray automotive tooling solutions using Kirksite (zinc-aluminum) alloy. Partnership combines MPW's DirectPowder engineered metal powder capabilities with CentreLine's Supersonic Spray Technologies platform. Driven by automotive customer demand for cold spray tooling repair.
- Austal USAcorePowder Partnership Agreement to co-develop specialized metal powders for additive manufacturing programs at the US Navy's Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Danville, Virginia. MPW leverages DirectPowder Process to create custom CuNi alloy powders meeting stringent US Navy specifications. Upon successful completion, intends to negotiate commercial offtake agreement covering minimum annual volumes, pricing, and lead times.
- Jet MetalsminorPowder Partnership to evaluate MPW copper-based powders for sintered parts market 'add-mix' applications. Jet Metals will test MPW powders to address constrained copper powder supply chain across the industry.
- HAMR IndustriescoreExisting Powder Production Partner that independently validated MPW's CP-Ti powder against MMPDS handbook values for cold spray applications. Validation confirms powder performs on par with or better than conventional wrought titanium at fraction of cost.
- Titomic LimitedflagshipStrategic collaboration to integrate MPW's DirectPowder technology in Titomic's Titomic Kinetic Fusion cold spray systems. Joint material testing, performance evaluations, and process optimizations. Upon successful outcomes, companies will negotiate offtake agreement for commercial supply arrangements.
- University of PittsburghminorResearch collaboration exploring use of MPW copper powder in binder jet 3D printing. Project funded by Manufacturing PA Program, combining MPW's powder production capabilities with University's AM facilities and characterization expertise.
- Solvus GlobalflagshipStrategic alliance in development of new materials for AM industry. Solvus Global acquired first DirectPowder system placed outside MPW's Pittsburgh production facility.
- 6K AdditiveflagshipStrategic partnership announced at Formnext to produce pure copper, copper alloys, and strategically important powders such as copper/nickel and bronze alloy powders for additive manufacturing. Leverages both organizations' sustainable production technologies - MPW's DirectPowder Process and 6K Additive's UniMelt microwave plasma system.
- Solvus Global (Powders on Demand)flagshipStrategic alliance for development of new materials with Solvus Global acquiring first DirectPowder system outside MPW's facility. Solvus Global and Powders on Demand joined MPW's Developer Network enabling industry-leading startups to combine resources for accelerated powder production. Partnership addresses gap between 16 AMS powder specs vs 2,000+ bar stock specs available.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Metal Powder Works competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- 6K Additive: 6K Additive produces metal powders for additive manufacturing using its proprietary UniMelt microwave plasma process. It is both a direct competitor and a strategic partner of MPW, supplying a similar alloy portfolio for AM and competing on powder quality, yield, and sustainability claims.
- Continuum Powyers (formerly MolyWorks): Continuum Powders produces recycled metal powders for AM and other applications, offering a sustainability-focused, on-demand powder alternative. It directly competes with MPW on small-batch, on-demand, sustainable metal powder supply and is a relevant comp because MPW's new VP of Commercial Operations, Greg Bartley, joined from Continuum.
Broad incumbents
- Höganäs: Höganäs is the world's largest producer of metal powders, serving additive manufacturing, press-and-sinter, brazing, and surface coating applications. It is the dominant incumbent MPW is trying to disrupt with a different process architecture and a more focused specialty alloy / AM portfolio.
- Carpenter Technology (Carpenter Additive): Carpenter Technology is a major US-based specialty alloys producer with a dedicated Carpenter Additive division producing premium metal powders for AM. It overlaps with MPW on aerospace, defense, and medical titanium powder supply but at much larger scale.
- Sandvik Additive Manufacturing: Sandvik's additive manufacturing division (incorporating Osprey powders) produces a broad range of gas-atomized metal powders for AM and supplies industries including aerospace, medical, and automotive. It competes with MPW on alloy breadth, scale, and qualification in regulated end markets.
- AP&C (Colibrium Additive, a GE Aerospace company): AP&C (now part of Colibrium Additive) is a leading producer of plasma-atomized titanium powders for aerospace and medical AM. It directly competes with MPW on CP-Ti powder for additive manufacturing at significantly larger production scale.
- Oerlikon AM: Oerlikon's additive manufacturing business produces a wide range of metal powders (nickel, titanium, aluminum, cobalt-chrome) for aerospace, medical, and industrial AM. It is a broad incumbent comparable to MPW across multiple alloy families and end markets.
Emerging players
- Equispheres: Equispheres specializes in high-performance aluminum powders for binder jetting and laser-based AM, targeting aerospace and automotive applications. It is an emerging direct competitor to MPW's aluminum powder line with a different atomization-based process and overlapping customer segments.
- PyroGenesis: PyroGenesis produces plasma-atomized titanium and other reactive metal powders for AM and aerospace/defense applications. It competes with MPW on high-purity titanium and specialty alloy powders and on defense/AM positioning.
- Elementum 3D: Elementum 3D produces reactive metal and ceramic-reinforced metal powders for AM, with a focus on aluminum and other traditionally difficult-to-process alloys. It competes with MPW on high-performance aluminum and specialty alloy powders for aerospace, automotive, and defense applications.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Metal Powder Works social profiles
Digital presenceMetal Powder Works financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Metal Powder Works leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Metal Powder Works funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Metal Powder Works M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Metal Powder Works
What does Metal Powder Works do?
Metal Powder Works produces metal powders for additive manufacturing, cold spray, and powder metallurgy using its patented DirectPowder™ process — a room-temperature, solid-state mechanical conversion of metal bar stock into powder without melting. The company sells a portfolio of 25+ alloy powders (aluminum, copper, specialty) plus containerized Expeditionary DirectPowder systems for remote deployment, targeting defense, aerospace, naval, nuclear, and automotive customers.
Is Metal Powder Works a public or private company?
Metal Powder Works is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Metal Powder Works founded?
Metal Powder Works was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Metal Powder Works based?
Metal Powder Works is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Metal Powder Works make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Metal Powder Sales are the primary driver. The others are expeditionary DirectPowder Systems and powder Partnership Agreements.
Who are Metal Powder Works's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are 6K Additive and Continuum Powyers (formerly MolyWorks). Broad incumbents are Höganäs, Carpenter Technology (Carpenter Additive), Sandvik Additive Manufacturing, AP&C (Colibrium Additive, a GE Aerospace company) and Oerlikon AM. Emerging players are Equispheres, PyroGenesis and Elementum 3D.
Does Metal Powder Works have an API?
No public API is recorded for Metal Powder Works.
What industry is Metal Powder Works in?
Metal Powder Works's product category is Metal Powder Production for Additive Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAAABAE, Metal Powders (LPBF/DMLS/EBM). Its NAICS code is 3335 and its SIC code is 3540.