YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – America Makes and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining announced the winners of a recent project call worth a total of $1.7 million.
The project call, Joint Additive Qualification for Sustainment – Supplier Qualification – Group 1, is funded through the Office of the Under Secretary of War, Manufacturing Technology Office. It aims to accelerate the integration of nontraditional suppliers and scale defense industrial base capabilities by training and supporting manufacturers to meet required process control documents for qualified additive manufacturing production.
The project offers an opportunity to strengthen the additive manufacturing supply chain by better aligning it with government acquisition requirements, a news release states. By developing comprehensive training and audit programs, the JAQS-SQ efforts ensure that additive manufacturing contract manufacturers implement essential process controls, fostering efficient, qualified production for government needs.
The award announcement represents the first group of suppliers under the JAQS initiative. Group 1 includes six suppliers focused on advancing laser powder bed fusion production capabilities in support of the defense industrial base.
The winners are 3D Systems Inc., Alloyed Inc., Howco Additive, Rennscot LLC, Velo3D and Divergent Technologies Inc.
America Makes is currently reviewing submissions for the JAQS-SQ Group 2 and Group 3, with additional award announcements anticipated this summer.