6K Additive Posts Record Quarter as U.S. Metal Powder Demand Surges

6K Additive has posted its strongest quarterly result since going public, reporting $7.1 million in revenue for the second quarter of 2026. That is up 63% from the same period last year and 14% from the first quarter. The company is based in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, and produces metal powders for additive manufacturing using a proprietary microwave plasma process.

The powder business drove most of the growth. Powder revenue reached $5 million in Q2, up 25% from the prior quarter. Titanium powder was the standout: revenue jumped 67% quarter on quarter and nearly tripled compared to Q2 2025. Refractory powders, including tungsten, niobium, and tantalum alloys, surged almost 500% from Q1 as more customer qualification programs entered production. Nickel powder also grew sharply, reaching $1.5 million for the quarter.

Demand is now outpacing the company's current production capacity. Repeat customers accounted for more than 90% of sales during the quarter, which suggests buyers are scaling up rather than just prototyping. The backlog grew to $11.9 million, up 23% from the end of Q1.

Why Domestic Powder Matters Right Now

The U.S. government has been pushing harder for domestic supply chains in critical materials, and 6K Additive is one of the direct beneficiaries. In April, the company received an additional $1.9 million in Small Business Innovation Research funding from the Defense Logistics Agency, bringing the total value of that program to $3.9 million. The work focuses on producing titanium, tungsten, niobium, and nickel powders for defense and industrial use.

6K Additive is also expanding its Burgettstown campus with support from a $23.4 million Defense Production Act Title III award. When the first phase is complete, annual production capacity will rise from roughly 1,600 metric tons to more than 1,000 metric tons just for the powder lines. The full three-phase buildout targets over 6,000 metric tons across all product lines. Initial production at the expanded facility is expected before the end of 2026.

Recycled Feedstock as a Strategic Advantage

One thing that distinguishes 6K Additive from conventional powder producers is its feedstock model. Rather than relying entirely on newly mined metal, the company recycles certified machining scrap, used AM powder, support material, and failed builds into new powder using its UniMelt microwave plasma system. That approach has attracted customers who want to reduce waste and lock in a domestic source for critical materials.

The company ended Q2 with $22.1 million in cash. Leadership has said the capacity expansion is fully funded and driven by actual customer orders, not speculative demand. If the current pace holds, the annualized revenue run rate is already approaching $28 million.