Nikon SLM Solutions receives order from HII for NXG 600E Additive Manufacturing System to support U.S. Navy programs

Nikon SLM Solutions, a unit of Nikon Advanced Manufacturing and global leader in laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) metal additive manufacturing, received an order from HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division for their first NXG 600E system. HII is the largest military shipbuilder in the United States and designs, builds, and refuels U.S. Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines at NNS.

This award represents another element in Nikon Advanced Manufacturing’s (Nikon AM) vision of leveraging its holistic capabilities to help enable and scale the defense industrial base on U.S. shores. Expanding the use of large-format metal additive manufacturing (AM) to support U.S. Navy surface and submarine shipbuilding programs is a key component of this vision. Earlier this year, Nikon AM and the U.S. Navy Maritime Industrial Base (MIB) Program announced a foundational partnership, also utilizing an NXG 600E system, to accelerate qualification, workforce development, and deployment of metal AM using Copper Nickel (CuNi) to support shipbuilding.

The NXG 600E is Nikon SLM Solutions’ large-volume, multi-laser platform engineered for high-productivity, performance-critical components. It will be installed at Newport News Shipbuilding, making it the first U.S. shipyard with the capability.

“This latest NXG 600E order underscores the strategic importance of metal additive manufacturing to U.S. Navy shipbuilding programs and marks another milestone in Nikon AM’s holistic approach towards scaling the defense industrial base on U.S. shores,” says Hamid Zarringhalam, CEO of Nikon Advanced Manufacturing and Chairman of the Board, Nikon SLM Solutions. “We're proud to strengthen our relationship with HII and the Navy to deliver the AM capabilities that are imperative to national security.”