Velo3D secures $32.6M Department of War contract to eliminate critical defense manufacturing bottleneck

Velo3D, Inc., a leading additive manufacturing technology company for mission-critical metal parts has entered into an Other Transition Agreement (OTA) contract with the U.S. Department of War's (DOW) Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) in support of a major weapon system program of record. The contract, with a total value of $32.6 million, supports DIU's Foundry for Operational Readiness and Global Effects or "Project FORGE."

Project FORGE is charged with identifying solutions to the current problem of major manufacturing bottlenecks for certain traditionally manufactured parts and platforms within the U.S. defense industrial base. These production bottlenecks prevent the throughput necessary to scale a critical DOW weapon system program. Velo3D will work with DIU, the U.S. Navy and a key industry prime to prototype and qualify additively manufactured (AM) components that will allow the DOW to efficiently scale the AM solution to remove the bottleneck and increase production rates for this critical program.

“We're excited for the collaboration between DIU and industry partners like Velo3D to develop and qualify the AM solution needed to resolve a critical production backlog,” says Mr. Derek McBride, Program Manager, DIU. “The combination of DIU's expertise in rapidly responding to some of the DOW's most difficult challenges and Velo3D's capabilities as an advanced additive manufacture, is the type of close collaboration we need with our Defense Industrial Base to support the warfighter.”

The contract leverages Velo3D's Rapid Production Solution (RPS) to quickly prototype alternatives to traditional subtractive manufacturing methods. Additionally, the agreement includes an option to explore development of the largest format Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) printing capability within the U.S. to support AM needs not currently possible within the U.S. industrial base. Velo3D's RPS leverages its systems, expertise and surge capacity solutions to enable scalable production of mission-critical components that would significantly enable DOW's efforts to reduce manufacturing bottlenecks.

“As the only U.S.-based industrial scale OEM with domestically developed Laser Powder-Bed Fusion technology, Velo3D is absolutely honored for the opportunity to collaborate with the DOW, DIU, the Navy to ultimately deliver a solution that supports the warfighter,” says Dr. Arun Jeldi, CEO of Velo3D. “Through our Rapid Production Solution, we are providing faster part delivery, enhanced reliability and the surge capacity needed to meet evolving defense demands.”

All Velo3D Sapphire printers are assembled in the United States and capable of printing parts up to 600mm in diameter and one meter in height repeatably across the entire fleet of Velo3D Sapphire® printers. This advancement significantly expands addressable applications, enabling larger part production while offering the many benefits of LPBF technology, such as higher fidelity printing and Velo3D's best in class layer-by-layer in-situ process monitoring.

Velo3D's systems meet DOW cybersecurity standards and can connect securely to military networks, ensuring integrity and security for critical manufacturing operations.