US Continuum and Mastrex Collaborate to Validate Metal Powders

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Continuum Powders and Mastrex have announced a technical collaboration to evaluate Continuum's metal powders, develop processing parameters, and complete validation on Mastrex's MX series laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) systems, with the goal of reducing the time manufacturers need for certification before putting new material parts into production.

Continuum, headquartered in California, supplies metal powders for additive manufacturing; Mastrex, headquartered in Houston, develops LPBF systems. The two companies plan to combine materials expertise with equipment development to streamline the path from powder selection to production, aiming to give customers greater confidence when adopting new materials.

Jon Cozens, CEO of Continuum Powders, stated that one of the biggest barriers to broader adoption of additive manufacturing is not a lack of innovation, but rather reducing the effort customers must invest to confidently adopt new materials and technologies. "By working closely with Mastrex from the start, we are helping create a smoother path from material selection and process development to successful production," he said. "Ultimately, our shared goal is to give customers greater confidence in the entire manufacturing solution—not just the powder."

Ilay Fridland, partner at Mastrex, said that Mastrex entered the market with the goal of providing high-quality LPBF technology while lowering the barrier to entry. "Customers are seeking complete manufacturing solutions, not disconnected process steps," he said. "Close collaboration with Continuum enables us to optimize materials in sync with our LPBF platform, helping customers adopt new applications with greater confidence while reducing development effort."

Initial work will focus on cobalt-chromium alloys, Ti-6Al-4V, and 17-4 stainless steel, with plans for nickel-based superalloys and copper-nickel alloys as the collaboration deepens. The two parties will evaluate powder behavior, processing conditions, build consistency, and material properties on applicable Mastrex systems, aiming to provide starting parameters and technical data to reduce the resources required for introducing new materials.

Cozens stated: "The future of additive manufacturing depends on close collaboration across the industry. Success is not determined by great hardware or materials alone. It is achieved only when every part of the manufacturing ecosystem works together to help customers move faster, reduce risk, and manufacture with confidence."