3D Systems and Savannah River Lab Partner on Nuclear 3D Printing

3D Systems signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Savannah River National Laboratory on August 27, 2026, to advance additive manufacturing for nuclear energy and national security applications. The partnership is based at SRNL's Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative in South Carolina.

The lab was established in August 2025 as a hub where industry, academia, and government work together on advanced manufacturing. With this deal, 3D Systems equipment is already installed and resident experts are in place. The CRADA sets up a direct path from lab work to commercial-scale production.

The main focus is nuclear energy. Additive manufacturing can produce heat exchangers, reactor internals, pumps, and valves from high-temperature nickel-based superalloys and radiation-tolerant materials. These parts are difficult or impossible to make with conventional manufacturing because of their complex internal channels and tight tolerances.

Small modular reactors and advanced reactor designs are driving new demand for faster, cheaper manufacturing. The International Energy Agency projects global SMR capacity could reach 40 to 120 gigawatts by 2050, depending on policy choices. That kind of growth requires domestic supply chains for high-performance components.

Beyond nuclear, the research covers AI and machine learning for real-time process optimization, cybersecurity for manufacturing systems, workforce training, and scalable production for aerospace and defense markets.

Jeff Graves, president and CEO of 3D Systems, said the agreement shows the importance of 3D printing materials for industrial markets and workforce development. G. Jeremy Leong, director of the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative, called it a validation of the lab's mission to turn collaboration into practical results for the nation.

This is a development partnership rather than a sales contract, so there is no disclosed contract value or production commitment. The next milestones will be jointly developed materials, qualified components, technical demonstrations, and eventually technology-transfer agreements.