3D Printing News Briefs, August 20, 2026: Metal Powders, Patents, and Scanners

SBO Scales Metal Additive Manufacturing Across Two Continents

Austria-based SBO AG, a high-performance materials and engineering group, is expanding its metal additive manufacturing footprint in both the US and the UK. A Velo3D Sapphire XC is now live at its US facility, with two more arriving in Q3 2026. Two Renishaw 500Q systems have also been installed for titanium and Inconel builds. The company is growing its Houston AM space by 50 percent, targeting over 2,100 square meters.

In the UK, SBO subsidiary 3T Additive Manufacturing was named Tech SME of the Year at the 2026 Thames Valley Tech and Innovation Awards. 3T has added an EOS M400 and will take delivery of a second by the end of Q3. SBO projects revenue growth from roughly 1.5 billion USD in 2025 to 4.8 billion USD by 2030, with additive manufacturing described as a key diversification pillar beyond the company's oil and gas roots.

Continuum Powders and Mastrex Validate Sustainable Metal Powders

Metal powder supplier Continuum Powders and LPBF system maker Mastrex have announced a strategic partnership to validate Continuum's metal powders across Mastrex's MX series printers. The initial work focuses on Ti-6Al-4V, 17-4 stainless steel, and cobalt chrome, with copper-nickel alloys and nickel-based superalloys planned for later phases.

The collaboration aims to shorten the qualification cycle that slows new material adoption in production environments. The two companies will measure powder behavior, build consistency, processing conditions, and material performance across the MX printer range. Continuum's Greyhound M2P platform, a patented cradle-to-cradle recycling process that converts metal waste back into spherical powder, is central to the sustainability angle. Both sides described the partnership as the beginning of a broader technical relationship, with plans to share application data and customer case studies as work progresses.

Artec 3D Releases a Metrology Laser Scanner

Artec 3D has launched a new metrology-grade laser scanner. Details on specifications and pricing were not in the initial feed item, but the launch positions Artec against a crowded field of portable metrology scanners targeting industrial inspection, reverse engineering, and quality control workflows. The scanner is aimed at users who need sub-millimeter accuracy without dedicating a fixed CMM to the task.

Continuous Composites Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit

Continuous Composites has filed a patent infringement lawsuit. The specifics of the case, including the defendant and the patents asserted, were not detailed in the feed summary. This is worth watching for anyone following the growing tension over process patents in continuous fiber composite 3D printing.

ASTM F42 Working on a Ceramics Design Guide

ASTM International's F42 technical committee on additive manufacturing is developing a proposed design guide specifically for ceramics. The standard is expected to address design-for-manufacturing considerations unique to ceramic AM, including support structures, shrinkage compensation, and material behavior at high temperatures. Ceramic AM has remained a niche relative to metal and polymer processes, but a formal ASTM guide could help reduce the guesswork for designers entering the space.