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Pennsylvania-based metal powder producer 6K Additive has signed a 30-month long-term agreement to supply Nickel 718 alloy powder to ADDMAN Engineering (ADDMAN), a Florida-headquartered additive manufacturing (AM) and machining company. The contract has a minimum value of US$8.1M and the maximum is US$10.8M.
Beyond the powder supply, the deal includes dedicated stocking support for ADDMAN and a program in which 6K Additive buys back ADDMAN’s used powder for reprocessing. The arrangement pairs new powder sales with recycling of leftover material within the U.S., which 6K Additive says reduces reliance on foreign supply chains and supports the material integrity needed in sensitive sectors such as defense.
The powder will support ADDMAN’s growing production volumes, and the companies say the framework leaves room for additional business as demand develops. The agreement also supplements ADDMAN’s sourcing with domestically produced powder.
“Our relationship with 6K Additive strengthens our ability to deliver high-performance components for critical aerospace, defense, and energy applications while supporting a more efficient and sustainable approach to powder lifecycle management,” said Joe Calmese, CEO of ADDMAN.
Reprocessing Used Powder Through UniMelt
Under the buy-back terms, 6K Additive will acquire revert material from ADDMAN, such as used powder, and convert it into new powder using its UniMelt microwave plasma system. According to the announcement, the program creates a circular loop between the two firms.
6K Additive says pairing UniMelt with its own proprietary processes allows it to turn revert material into spherical titanium, nickel, and refractory metal powders. Its broader feedstock includes certified turnings, millings, support material, and failed builds.
“By transforming ADDMAN’s revert into high-performance metal powder, we’re demonstrating that upcycled feedstock can deliver the quality required for demanding additive manufacturing applications. Our process produces highly spherical powder that supports repeatable printing, improved part quality, and reliable mechanical performance,” said Frank Roberts, CEO and Managing Director of 6K Additive.
Roberts added that keeping critical materials within the U.S. supply chain aligns with national priorities, and that the buy-back program lowers total cost of ownership for end users.
Pairing Powder Sales with Revert Buy-Backs
The ADDMAN agreement combines two transactions with one customer: 6K Additive sells Nickel 718 powder to ADDMAN and buys back ADDMAN’s revert powder as feedstock for UniMelt. Under this approach, a powder buyer also becomes a supplier of raw material for new powder.
6K Additive has applied part of this model with Siemens Energy, which signed a global long-term agreement in February 2026 to supply spent nickel alloy powder from its AM facilities as UniMelt feedstock. By then, 6K Additive had processed nearly 20 tons of that material, with the resulting powder supplied into the broader AM market. This corresponds to the buy-back side of the ADDMAN agreement.
In January 2026, suppressor manufacturer AGF Defcom named 6K Additive its preferred metal powder supplier. The deal also introduced a closed-loop program set to convert solid metal scrap and unused powder from suppressor production back into powder for AGF Defcom’s own manufacturing workflow. Like the ADDMAN deal, it links powder supply with reprocessing of the customer’s material, applied in this case to firearm suppressors, while the ADDMAN agreement covers Nickel 718 for aerospace, defense, and energy work.
For ADDMAN, the result is a supplier that both delivers Nickel 718 and takes back the powder its production leaves behind, extending a model 6K Additive has been building with other AM users.
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Featured image shows 6K Additive Logo. Image via 6K Additive.
