SRNL partners with 3D Systems to advance 3D printing for advanced energy and national security applications
Savannah River National Laboratory and 3D Systems have entered into a cooperative research and development agreement, or CRADA, to accelerate innovation in additive manufacturing for advanced energy generation and national security applications. The partnership centers on SRNL’s Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative, leveraging the facility’s unique position as South Carolina’s only national laboratory-operated site located on a public university campus.
Through this CRADA, SRNL and 3D Systems will jointly pursue advancements in materials development, equipment enhancements, artificial intelligence/machine learning – enabled process optimization, manufacturing systems, cybersecurity and workforce development training.
A primary emphasis of the collaboration is the application of AM to critical energy challenges, with particular relevance to nuclear energy and broader energy infrastructure. AM enables the fabrication of complex components from advanced alloys that are difficult or impossible to produce using conventional methods.
By combining 3D Systems’ commercial AM platforms and materials expertise with SRNL’s deep domain knowledge in nuclear materials, environmental stewardship, and energy resilience, the collaboration aims to help bridge laboratory innovation with industrial readiness.
“This collaboration positions SRNL and 3D Systems to deliver groundbreaking additive manufacturing technologies, strengthen U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, and drive forward the next era of AM innovation,” said Roderick Jackson, associate laboratory director for science, energy and innovation at SRNL.
Cutting-edge 3D Systems equipment has been installed at the AMC and is supported by facility upgrades and resident AM subject-matter experts. This infrastructure will enable both world-class research and the demonstration of production-ready processes, positioning the partners to develop scalable manufacturing solutions with broader implications for high-value industrial markets including nuclear energy, aerospace and defense, and environmental technologies.
“This agreement underscores SRNL’s commitment to building world-class research capabilities, leveraging partnerships to enhance its competitive edge and solidify its presence as a leader in AM technologies,” said G. Jeremy Leong, AMC director. In addition to technology development, the partnership expands opportunities for training and developing the next generation of AM scientists, engineers, and technicians, strengthening the regional and national advanced manufacturing workforce.
“We look forward to partnering with SRNL at the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative and deploying 3D Systems’ leading AM technologies,” said Jeff Graves, president and CEO of 3D Systems. “This agreement demonstrates the impact and importance of high-quality 3D printing materials and technologies on key industrial markets, particularly energy and national security, and on developing the skilled workforce those markets require.”
Savannah River National Laboratory is a multi-program federally funded research and development center managed and operated by Battelle Savannah River Alliance for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management. EM transforms the nation’s environmental liabilities into opportunities for innovation, job creation, and economic growth while ensuring safe, secure, and prosperous communities across America.
Photos available on SRNL Flickr here.
Read the 3D Systems story here.
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Media contact: SRNL Media Relations