The two agreements include purchase of Velo3D's large-format Sapphire XC printer and establishing a service agreement in support of key research and development, qualification, and part fabrication efforts

Velo3D, Inc. (Nasdaq: VELO), a leading additive manufacturing technology company for mission-critical metal parts, has entered a contract, valued at $6M USD, to develop and qualify copper nickel alloy (CuNi) for use in its line of Sapphire printers. The agreement, which includes qualifying the alloy for use in Velo3D's large-format Laser Powder-Bed Fusion (LPBF) Sapphire XC printer, supports the U.S. Navy Maritime Industrial Base Program's efforts to accelerate ship repairs.

CuNi is leveraged in naval applications due to its exceptional seawater corrosion resistance. However, traditional casting of CuNi presents significant manufacturing challenges, often requiring extensive rework, increasing total costs and lead times. Velo3D's Rapid Production Solution (RPS) can develop and produce these parts in less time than traditional casting sourcing and can be used to improve shipbuilding schedules and supply chain resiliency.

Velo3D's RPS leverages its systems, expertise, and surge capacity solutions to enable scalable production of mission-critical parts that support U.S. Navy applications

"Velo3D is proud to be the first U.S.-based OEM with domestically developed Laser Powder-Bed Fusion additive manufacturing solutions to develop CuNi for its systems," said Arun Jeldi, Velo3D CEO. "Through our Rapid Production Solution, we are helping provide faster part delivery, enhanced reliability, and the surge capacity needed to meet evolving defense demands."

The CuNi qualification process is being performed by Velo3D's U.S.-based development team in Fremont, California. The effort is also conducted in collaboration with a domestic, openly sourced metal powder supplier, ensuring supply chain independence for the Navy.

All Sapphire printers are assembled in the United States, and the large-format Sapphire XC—capable of printing parts up to 600 mm in diameter and 550 mm in height—could be the first printer of its size to qualify CuNi parts. 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 DoD cybersecurity standards and can connect securely to military networks, ensuring integrity and security for critical manufacturing operations.

This partnership represents Velo 3D's efforts to support ship maintenance modernization and reduce repair delays that impact fleet readiness.

About the Maritime Industrial Base Program:

The Navy's Maritime Industrial Base Program was established to develop, implement, and execute a plan to stabilize, enhance, and grow the maritime industrial base by addressing the wide range of challenges to industrial base capacity, capability, and workforce. For more information, visit https://www.secnav.navy.mil/rda/mib/Pages/default.aspx

About Velo3D:

Velo3D is a metal 3D printing technology company. 3D printing—also known as additive manufacturing (AM)—has a unique ability to improve the way high-value metal parts are built. However, legacy metal AM has been greatly limited in its capabilities since its invention almost 30 years ago. This has prevented the technology from being used to create the most valuable and impactful parts, restricting its use to specific niches where the limitations were acceptable.

Velo3D has overcome these limitations so engineers can design and print the parts they want. The company's solution unlocks a wide breadth of design freedom and enables customers in space exploration, aviation, power generation, energy, and semiconductor to innovate the future in their respective industries. Using Velo3D, these customers can now build mission-critical metal parts that were previously impossible to manufacture. The fully integrated solution includes the Flow print preparation software, the Sapphire family of printers, and the Assure quality control system—all of which are powered by Velo3D's Intelligent Fusion manufacturing process. The company delivered its first Sapphire system in 2018 and has been a strategic partner to innovators such as SpaceX, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Lockheed Martin, Avio, and General Motors. Velo3D was named as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for 2023. For more information, please visit Velo3D.com, or follow the company on LinkedIn.

VELO, VELO3D, SAPPHIRE and INTELLIGENT FUSION, are registered trademarks of Velo3D, Inc.; and WITHOUT COMPROMISE, FLOW, FLOW DEVELOPER, and ASSURE are trademarks of Velo3D, Inc. All Rights Reserved © Velo3D, Inc.