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Neighborhood 91, a global advanced manufacturing hub based in Pittsburgh Airport Innovation Campus, USA, has announced an expansion of its capacity with the addition of an X5R Directed Energy Deposition (DED) Additive Manufacturing machine from FormAlloy Technologies Inc., San Diego, California, USA.
The acquisition was made possible through the Resilient Manufacturing Ecosystem (RME) program managed by The Barnes Global Advisors (TBGA) and funded by the US Department of Defense (DoD) through its Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program. The RME program has been established to de-risk the adoption of advanced manufacturing to fulfill the needs of the DoD.
HAMR Industries will operate the X5R system to develop next-generation components designed for extreme environments, with a focus on propulsion, hypersonics, and to support the Maritime Industrial Base (MIB) advanced manufacturing initiatives.
“The ability for the X5R to operate with multiple feedstocks, build meter-sized components, and functional grade is a huge advantage,” said Michael Schmitt, CEO of HAMR Industries. “We expect to utilize both wire and powder capabilities to balance economics with part size and complexity, while functional graded materials will be used for a variety of high-performance applications.”
A feature of the X5R is its integrated robotic arm, which extends the machine’s build volume. Melanie Lang, CEO of FormAlloy, explained, “We saw the demand signal from industry for scalable DED. The development of this robotic arm enables a significant increase in build volume, meeting industry needs for larger and more complex components.”
Jennifer Coyne, Director of Operations at The Barnes Global Advisors, emphasized the broader significance of the acquisition. “RME was established as a model to demonstrate how to structure a sustainable advanced manufacturing supply chain. The ability to integrate innovative equipment like the X5R provides immense value to moving this endeavor forward.”
The installation at Neighborhood 91 reinforces the site’s growing role as a hub for advanced manufacturing innovation and supply chain advancement in the United States. The X5R will be introduced later this year when the campus hosts its first Defense Day Open House.
