DOD awards $23.4 million to expand domestic capability to upcycle scrap material into high-grade metal

The Department of Defense announced award of $23.4 million via the Defense Production Act Investment (DPAI) Program to 6k Additive, LLC to expand capability to upcycle waste and scrap material for conversion into higher grade metals for use in defense and commercial supply chains.

"U.S. dependency on foreign sources for specialty metals presents a significant risk to national security," said Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy. "6K's products will feed supply chains that form the basis of our military's core warfighting capabilities."

The award will enable 6K Additive to execute facility renovation, equipment acquisition and installation, and engineering. This will result in production capacity for high-grade metals to include titanium, niobium, nickel, and tungsten. These metals are used in alloys for aircraft structural components, turbine engine blades, rocket engines, radar systems, and many other key defense applications. 6K Additive's proprietary upcycling processes leverage abundant domestic sources of metal feedstock, to include end-of-life components, machine shop waste, and scrap from manufacturing processes such as casting and forging.

6K’s proprietary upscaling processes leverage abundant domestic sources of metal feedstock to include end of life components, machine shop swarf, and scrap from manufacturing processes such as casting and forging. With MCEIP’s help, 6K expects to expand its capabilities and achieve full rate production at their Burgettstown, PA facility by the end of 2026.

“Our country’s national security relies heavily on materials used across numerous applications and controlling the supply chain from within the borders of the United States is paramount," says Frank Roberts, President of 6K Additive. "We're excited to announce this important expansion program which enhances our capabilities to support our defense and commercial customer base.  The $23.4 million award from the DoD is a testament to the capabilities of 6K Additive for upcycling the most critical metals and alloys. No other organization has the history, experience, infrastructure or potential 6K Additive has in upcycling materials like titanium, nickel superalloys and refractory metals. We’re honored to be selected for the award and recognize the trust the DoD has placed in our organization.”

To date in calendar year 2023, the DPAI Program has made 24 awards totaling $735 million. DPAI is overseen by the ASD (IBP)'s Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Program (MCEIP), in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Resilience. With MCEIP's help, 6K Additive expects to achieve full rate production at their Burgettstown, PA facility by the end of 2026.