6K Additive Expands European Reach with AMPERE Alloys Partnership
6K Additive has appointed AMPERE Alloys as its official distributor for metal additive manufacturing powders in the European market, enhancing access for regional manufacturers.
6K Additive, a U.S. company specializing in sustainable, high-performance metal powders for additive manufacturing, has announced a new distribution agreement with AMPERE Alloys. AMPERE Alloys, a European specialist in metals and ferro-alloys, will now distribute 6K Additive's product line, including refractory metals, titanium, and nickel-based superalloys, across the European market.
This partnership aims to provide European manufacturers with more accessible and streamlined access to 6K Additive's metal powders, which are produced using the company's proprietary UniMelt microwave plasma system. AMPERE Alloys will manage powder sales, localized distribution from its 12 European warehouses, and provide initial technical support. The collaboration is expected to benefit key industries such as aerospace, defense, medical, and energy.
In other developments, the European Space Agency (ESA) has successfully retrieved the fifth 3D-printed sample from its Metal 3D Printer Technology Demonstrator aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Launched in 2024, the printer is part of an initiative to explore the potential of in-orbit additive manufacturing for producing spare parts on long-duration space missions. Astronaut Sophie Adenot retrieved the sample during the Epsilon mission.
This fifth printed component will undergo analysis alongside three previous samples, with results from ESTEC and the Technical University of Denmark anticipated soon. The samples sent back to Earth on board the CRS SpX-34 spacecraft will also be tested to evaluate the technology's performance and capabilities in the space environment. Astronaut Adenot highlighted the importance of this European technology demonstration for the future of human spaceflight.
Separately, researchers at Newcastle University have utilized 3D scanning technology to recreate an ancient Roman board game. In 2019, a stone board game, identified as Ludus Latrunculorum, was excavated at the Roman frontier fort of Vindolanda. The artifact, discovered in five pieces, was scanned using an Artec 3D Spider to create a digital model, enabling its virtual reconstruction.
The expansion of 6K Additive's distribution into Europe, facilitated by AMPERE Alloys, signifies a growing demand for advanced, sustainable metal powders in the region. The ESA's continued progress with in-orbit metal 3D printing demonstrates the critical role additive manufacturing will play in enabling long-duration space missions and potentially in-situ resource utilization, reducing reliance on Earth-based supply chains.
Edited by the news editor with AI from the original report — please refer to the original source.