--- title: "Metal Powder Works enters powder partnership with Austal USA" url: https://www.voxelmatters.com/metal-powder-works-enters-powder-partnership-with-austal-usa/ date: 2025-12-21 modified: 2025-12-20 lang: en author: "Edward Wakefield" description: "Metal Powder Works (MPW), a producer of more than 25 specialty metal powders for additive manufacturing and advanced industrial applications, has signed a Powder Partnership Agreement with Austal USA, a..." categories: - "Acquisitions, Mergers & Partnerships" - "AM Powders" - "Defense" - "Maritime Industry" - "Metal Additive Manufacturing" tags: - "insights" image: https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/NiAlBronze-top-1-e1766262226420-640x401.webp word_count: 556 --- # Metal Powder Works enters powder partnership with Austal USA [Metal Powder Works (MPW), a producer](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/metal-powder-works/) of more than 25 specialty metal powders for additive manufacturing and advanced industrial applications, has signed a Powder Partnership Agreement with Austal USA, a subsidiary of [Austal Limited, Australia's largest shipbuilder](https://www.voxelmatters.com/asc-and-austal-support-australias-naval-capability-with-am/) and a global defense prime. Austal USA is already an active purchaser of MPW powder, with the agreement formalizing its commercial relationship with the company and establishing a framework for expanded collaboration and supply. Under the agreement, MPW and Austal USA will co-develop additional metal powder specifications, curated for specialized use in Austal USA's additive manufacturing applications, including programs at the US Navy's Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE) in Danville, Virginia. MPW will leverage [its patented DirectPowder Process](https://www.voxelmatters.com/westinghouse-to-assess-mpws-powders-for-nuclear-components/) to develop custom alloy powders tailored to Austal USA's exacting specifications. MPW will provide samples for testing, refining powder characteristics as needed to achieve optimal performance, with the materials of interest including MPW’s CuNi alloys, which have met stringent US Navy specifications. Because MPW employs a novel production technology, introducing its powders into the Navy supply chain expands available powder sources, reduces the risk of single-source failures, and enhances cost competitiveness. Upon successful completion of the development program, MPW and Austal intend to negotiate a commercial offtake agreement establishing minimum annual volumes, pricing structures, and lead times for ongoing powder supply. ![Metal Powder Works enters powder partnership with Austal USA. The companies will co-develop additional metal powder specifications.](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Two-Evolved-Capes-under-Cons.webp) "We are delighted to formalise our partnership with Austal USA, operator of the US Navy's Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence and a critical supplier to the US Navy. This partnership positions MPW's DirectPowder technology within a strategic naval supply chain initiative at a time when the US Department of Defense is making significant investments in additive manufacturing capabilities. With both companies manufacturing in the United States, we are well-positioned to support the domestic defense industrial base and look forward to expanding our collaboration as Austal scales additive manufacturing across its naval programs," said John E. Barnes, CEO of Metal Powder Works. "Austal USA is committed to advancing manufacturing technologies that strengthen our capabilities as a US defence prime contractor. Through our operation of the US Navy's Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence, we are at the forefront of deploying additive manufacturing solutions across the maritime industrial base. Our partnership with Metal Powder Works provides access to high-performance metal powders specifically optimised for these applications, and the DirectPowder Process offers unique flexibility to tailor powder characteristics to the exacting requirements of naval manufacturing," said Dr. Scott Kasen, Director of Advanced Technologies at Austal USA. Austal USA operates the US AM CoE in Virginia - the US Navy's flagship additive manufacturing facility supporting the construction and sustainment of naval vessels. The AM CoE is a [Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/johns-hopkins-apl-and-navsea-3d-print-military-hardware/) initiative established to address critical supply chain challenges by developing additive manufacturing solutions for hard-to-source castings, forgings, and fittings. Leading a consortium of industry partners [in collaboration with BlueForge Alliance](https://www.voxelmatters.com/aml3d-enters-new-mla-with-blueforge-alliance/), Austal USA is advancing the qualification and scaling of additively manufactured parts across submarine and surface fleet programs. The partnership with MPW positions DirectPowder technology within this strategic US Navy supply chain initiative, at a time of significant investment in additive manufacturing capabilities across the defense industrial base. With MPW's manufacturing headquarters in Pittsburgh, the partnership strengthens domestic supply chain capability for critical defence manufacturing materials and aligns with NAVSEA's objectives to expand additive manufacturing capacity for naval shipbuilding and sustainment.