YOUNGSTOWN, OH, USA, Jul 31, 2026 — America Makes and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) are proud to announce the winners of a recent project call funded by the Office of the Under Secretary of War, Manufacturing Technology Office (OSW ManTech), worth a total of $10.5M. The project call, Joint Additive Qualification for Sustainment – Supplier Qualification (JAQS-SQ – Groups 2 & 3), focuses on unified requirements and training to qualify laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing (AM) and directed energy deposition (DED) suppliers for the metal AM industrial base.
This project builds on the original JAQS‑SQ effort to strengthen manufacturing readiness and expand defense industrial bases (DIB) capabilities by standardizing AM training and audits, aligning suppliers with acquisition requirements, accelerating the onboarding of non-traditional vendors, and ensuring consistent, qualified production. The training curriculum will be developed in partnership with Wichita State University – National Institute for Aviation Research (WSU‑NIAR). Specifically designed for production and engineering operations managers, this practical training will teach leaders how to implement process control documents and qualification principles effectively. Once suppliers have completed training and integrated the guidance, an audit will be conducted to verify their ability to operate as qualified AM manufacturers for the Department of War (DoW). This includes demonstrating the ability to execute a performance qualification as defined in the curriculum and required by the audit.
“Congratulations to the 25 project teams chosen for this vital effort. This award signifies a pivotal moment for the Joint Additive Qualification for Sustainment (JAQS) initiative and marks a major advancement for the defense industrial base. The JAQS network now includes 31 suppliers, forming one of the largest coordinated efforts to qualify and expand additive manufacturing in support of national defense readiness,” said Ben DiMarco, Technology Transition Director at America Makes. “This initiative accelerates supplier qualification and amplifies manufacturing capabilities nationwide. The impact of this strategic investment will extend beyond these teams, shaping the future of additive manufacturing.”
Up to 30 awards were anticipated with this project. Below is the list of winners:
- Additive Technologies, LLC (dba ADDiTEC)
- Alaris Defense, Inc. (dba Hyperscale Manufacturing)
- AML3D USA, Inc.
- American Prime Technologies
- Armadillo Additive, Inc.
- Baker Hughes Energy Transition, LLC
- Collins Aerospace
- Cumberland Additive, Inc.
- Eaton Corporation
- Elementum 3D
- EWI
- FASTECH, LLC
- FormAlloy Technologies, Inc.
- GKN Aerospace GTC, LLC
- Hadrian Automation, Inc.
- Indiana Technology and Manufacturing Companies (ITAMCO)
- Innovative 3D Manufacturing, LLC
- Laser Welding Solutions, LLC
- Materials Sciences, LLC
- Mimo Technik Print Metal, LLC
- MRL Materials Resources, LLC
- National Equipment Corporation (NECO)
- Nikon AM Synergy
- Norsk Titanium US, Inc.
- Seurat Technologies, Inc.
Awardees will report on their progress at the America Makes Technical Review and Exchange (TRX) and at other industry events throughout the program’s execution phase.
About America Makes
America Makes is the nation’s leading public-private partnership for additive manufacturing (AM) technology and education. America Makes members from industry, academia, government, and workforce and economic development organizations work together to accelerate the adoption of AM and the nation’s global manufacturing competitiveness. Founded in 2012 as the Department of War’s National Manufacturing Innovation Institute for AM and the first of the Manufacturing USA network, America Makes is based in Youngstown, Ohio, and managed by the not-for-profit National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM). Learn more at americamakes.us.
About NCDMM
NCDMM delivers innovative and collaborative manufacturing solutions that enhance our nation’s workforce and economic competitiveness. NCDMM has extensive knowledge and depth in commercial and defense manufacturing areas to continually innovate, improve, and advance manufacturing technologies and methodologies. Our experienced team specializes in identifying the needs, players, technologies, and processes to attain optimal solutions for our customers. We connect the dots. That’s the NCDMM methodology. With seven locations nationwide, NCDMM manages America Makes, Youngstown Innovation Hub, and El Paso Makes and is a subsidiary of the Manufacturing Technology Deployment Group, Inc. (MTDG). Learn more at ncdmm.org.
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the Department of the Air Force’s primary scientific research and development center and one of six centers within Air Force Materiel Command. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace forces. With a workforce spanning across nine technology areas and 40 other operations around the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com
