ATI opens its Additive Manufacturing Products Facility in Florida
First contract awarded by Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc. (BPMI) targets parts for the US Navy on extended NXG systems
ATI Inc. (NYSE: ATI) celebrated the commissioning of its world-class Additive Manufacturing Products facility, which brings online some the industry’s most advanced large-format metal additive manufacturing capabilities using extended NXG systems from Nikon SLM Solutions. The vertically integrated greenfield build includes design, printing, heat treating, machining and inspection capabilities under one roof.
The company, a producer of high-performance materials (including metal powders for AM) and solutions, revealed plans for the facility in September 2023, when it was awarded a contract by Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc. (BPMI) to develop highly engineered part solutions for the US Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. To support the contract, which calls for advanced manufacturing methods, including metal additive manufacturing, ATI decided to establish a dedicated AM facility outside Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“Layer by layer, additive manufacturing gives us the ability to produce high-performance, highly complex components for our customers – faster, with less waste,” said Kimberly A. Fields, ATI President and CEO, commemorating the grand opening with customers, community supporters and industry leaders. The new operations – built upon nearly a decade of additive manufacturing expertise – can print the tallest parts in the Western world: up to 1.5 meters in previously impossible geometries.
“ATI is a metallurgical leader in developing new alloy powder materials specifically for additive manufacturing. In this new facility, we’ve brought our materials science and forging expertise together with additive manufacturing production acumen, delivering high-quality production at scale,” said Fields. “From design to finished product, we’ve formed a powerhouse that solves our customers’ most difficult challenges for the most demanding markets—aerospace, defense and space.”
Along with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, grand opening attendees toured the 132,000-square-foot facility to see the advanced manufacturing operations, including laser powder bed fusion printing. Additive Manufacturing Products has implemented a comprehensive quality system that meets the standards of both ISO 9001 and AS9100D. The investment, announced in late 2023, is included in the company’s existing capital expenditure guidance.
