Nikon SLM Solutions, a subsidiary of Nikon Advanced Manufacturing and developer of laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) metal 3D printing systems, has received an order from HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division for its NXG 600E platform. The large-format metal printer will be installed in Virginia, marking the first deployment of its kind at a U.S. shipyard to support Navy shipbuilding programs.
HII, the United States’ largest military shipbuilder, designs, constructs, and refuels nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines for the Navy. The order supports Nikon’s strategy to expand domestic industrial capacity through additive production. Large-scale metal 3D printing is being integrated into U.S. naval shipyards to accelerate production, improve material efficiency, and reduce dependency on complex supply chains.
Earlier this year, the German manufacturer partnered with the U.S. Navy’s Maritime Industrial Base (MIB) Program to advance metal 3D printing qualification and workforce training. That collaboration also employs an NXG 600E system and focuses on components made from Copper Nickel (CuNi), an alloy known for corrosion resistance in marine environments.
Engineered with up to 12 lasers and capable of build rates near 1,000 cubic centimeters per hour, the system is designed for producing large, performance-critical components. Once installed at Newport News, it will enable on-site fabrication of intricate geometries and shorten delivery times for specialized ship parts.
Integrating 3D printing into ship construction aligns with government initiatives to modernize the defense industrial base. For the Virginia-based contractor, the technology provides a means to produce complex structures more efficiently and maintain tighter control over production cycles. The partnership expands earlier efforts to qualify metal additive manufacturing for certified defense applications, paving the way for broader adoption across naval projects.
Hamid Zarringhalam, CEO of Nikon Advanced Manufacturing and Chairman of Nikon SLM Solutions, said the order highlights the strategic importance of additive manufacturing for defense programs. “This latest NXG 600E order underscores the strategic importance of metal additive manufacturing to U.S. Navy shipbuilding programs,” said Zarringhalam. “It marks another milestone in Nikon AM’s holistic approach toward scaling the defense industrial base on U.S. shores. We are proud to strengthen our relationship with HII and the Navy to deliver the AM capabilities that are imperative to national security.”
Newport News Shipbuilding division employs more than 44,000 workers and has a 135-year history of advancing U.S. naval capabilities. Its portfolio extends beyond shipbuilding to include unmanned systems, cyber technologies, artificial intelligence, and synthetic training solutions designed for multi-domain operations.
Expanding Metal 3D Printing Across U.S. Naval Programs
Velo3D, a U.S. developer of metal additive manufacturing systems, and materials specialist Linde AMT have also partnered to supply copper-nickel (CuNi 70-30) powder for U.S. Navy and Maritime Industrial Base (MIB) programs. The collaboration integrates Linde AMT’s expanded atomization facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, with Velo3D’s Sapphire XC printers to produce corrosion-resistant alloys used in ship piping and cooling systems. A dedicated printer will operate exclusively with Linde’s domestically produced powder to maintain continuous output for Navy and MIB projects under ITAR compliance. The agreement establishes a U.S.-based supply chain for CuNi components supporting shipbuilding and modernization efforts.
In parallel, AML3D, an Australian manufacturer of large-scale wire arc additive systems, recently secured a US$1.7 million contract to supply its ARCEMY X platform to Virginia-based defense supplier FasTech LLC. The system will be installed near the U.S. Navy Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Danville, Virginia. To expedite delivery, AML3D will provide a 6,000-pound positioner from its existing fleet in Ohio, with a replacement scheduled later to maintain local capacity. This order represents the company’s ninth ARCEMY machine in the United States and continues its expansion strategy combining system sales and contract production for defense, utilities, aerospace, and energy sectors.
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Featured image shows NXG 600E metal 3D printer. Photo via Nikon SLM Solutions.
