DEEP Manufacturing Expands Into Houston With New 50,000 Sq Ft WAAM Facility

DEEP Manufacturing, a company specializing in Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) and hybrid manufacturing, is expanding its U.S. operations with a 50,000 sq ft facility in Houston, Texas. The new site is intended to bring large-scale metal additive manufacturing closer to customers in the energy, defense, and maritime sectors while increasing domestic capacity for high-integrity components used in critical industrial infrastructure.

DEEP Manufacturing chose Houston for its role as a major hub for energy, subsea, and industrial engineering. The facility is scheduled for an official launch on May 6, 2026, with visitors set to see examples of the company's printing capability, including a mock-up of a pressure-rated vessel set to be certified to DNV standards — described as a world first for this manufacturing process.

$10 Million Investment in U.S. Manufacturing

The Texas site forms part of a wider $10 million investment in U.S. advanced manufacturing capability planned by the end of 2026. Four robotic WAAM systems will be housed at launch, with additional systems planned throughout the year. Post-processing and inspection capabilities are also set to be added as the operation scales.

The company currently employs 10 staff in Houston and plans to increase that number to around 30 by the end of the year. Houston's operation is already running, with first prints completed ahead of full operational readiness in May.

Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing for Large Components

Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing uses robotic welding systems to produce large metal components layer by layer. According to DEEP Manufacturing, the process can produce complex structures faster than traditional forging and casting methods, helping reduce lead times for critical industrial parts.

Houston's team mirrors the structure of the company's Bristol facility in the UK, bringing together engineers, technicians, and additive manufacturing specialists to support customers across multiple sectors.

Development of the site moved quickly, with the opening brought forward by a year into 2026. The first systems were delivered at the end of 2025, two were operational by January 2026, February was used for training and knowledge transfer from the UK team, and March focused on Inconel 625 deposition trials.

Supply Chain Resilience for Critical Industries

Peter Richards, CEO of DEEP Manufacturing, said: "Houston represents a major step in scaling industrial additive manufacturing in the United States. By bringing our WAAM capability closer to customers in energy, defence and maritime sectors, we can dramatically reduce lead times for large, high-integrity components while strengthening supply-chain resilience for critical industries."

The manufacturer was originally established by parent company DEEP, an ocean engineering and technology company, to produce subsea pressure vessels for human occupancy. Earlier this year, DEEP announced a $100 million investment in a permanent engineering and development hub in Houston.