Hypermetal, a certified metal additive manufacturing specialist, has acquired a Nikon SLM NXG XII 600 system, expanding its production capacity for aerospace and defense applications. This investment reinforces Hypermetal’s position as a leading European service provider in certified, large-scale metal AM.

The new NXG XII 600 system addresses previous production limitations in build volume and throughput, enabling Hypermetal to manufacture larger, flight-critical components faster and with higher consistency. By adopting Nikon SLM Solutions’ high-performance multi-laser technology, the company strengthens its process control and qualification capability under EN9100 and ISO9001 standards – essential for demanding aerospace and defense programs.

This investment is part of Hypermetal’s approved project under Portugal 2030 – Productive Innovation, a national funding program that supports companies in adopting advanced technologies and expanding industrial capabilities. Hypermetal’s project was selected for its strategic relevance to the aerospace and space sectors.

The investment is also aligned with national priorities. In a formal letter of endorsement, the Portuguese Space Agency (PT Space) recognized Hypermetal’s contribution to strengthening Portugal’s and Europe’s independent access to space, highlighting the importance of expanding industrial capabilities in laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) for propulsion systems and other mission-critical applications.

“This investment marks an important step in Hypermetal’s growth,” said Afonso Nogueira, Founder and CEO of Hypermetal. “By adding the Nikon SLM NXG system to our production capabilities, we are strengthening our ability to support demanding aerospace and defense programs with certified, high-quality additive manufacturing. It also allows our customers to access state-of-the-art technology on demand – whether to expand their own production capacity or to accelerate new developments. We see this as a strategic move toward deeper integration in the European advanced manufacturing supply chain.”

The NXG XII 600 will be used to produce functional components and demonstrators for propulsion systems, structural assemblies, and thermal management applications. Initially focused on the aerospace, space, and defense industries, the system will also support complex geometries, lightweight structures, and high-performance materials such as Inconel across other advanced industrial sectors.

“Nikon SLM Solutions offers unmatched reliability and productivity for large-scale additive manufacturing,” said Nogueira. “The NXG platform’s precision, scalability, and proven performance for aerospace applications perfectly align with Hypermetal’s goals of delivering flight-critical components under EN9100 and ISO9001 quality standards.”

“Hypermetal represents exactly the type of forward-looking partner driving the European AM ecosystem forward,” said Sam O’Leary, CEO of Nikon SLM Solutions. “Their investment in the NXG XII 600 underscores how industrial-scale metal AM is evolving from an experimental technology to a trusted production tool for critical applications in aerospace and defense. Together, we’re enabling a more resilient, capable, and independent European manufacturing supply chain.”