APWORKS, Equispheres partner to produce high-performance aluminum-magnesium-scandium alloy for 3D printing.

In a move to strengthen North America's supply of advanced aerospace materials, APWORKS, an Airbus subsidiary specializing in metal 3D printing, and Equispheres, a Canadian aluminum powder producer, have partnered to establish regional production of Scalmalloy, a high-performance aluminum-magnesium-scandium alloy engineered for additive manufacturing.

Developed for laser powder bed fusion and critical applications demanding strength, weldability, and corrosion resistance, Scalmalloy bridges the gap between traditional aerospace-grade metals and next-generation manufacturing technologies.

Until now, the alloy's availability has been largely limited to Europe and Asia, creating supply challenges for North American manufacturers looking to accelerate additive production.

Eliminating one of the final barriers to adoption, the newest partnership will see Equispheres produce Scalmalloy powder optimized for 3D printing from primarily domestic raw materials – a move designed to support aerospace, defense, and industrial users seeking faster, more reliable access to high-performance alloys.

The company's proprietary powder technology, designed for high uniformity and print speed without compromising mechanical integrity, will bring new scalability to a material prized for its combination of strength and lightweight performance.

"Scalmalloy will be a great addition to our line of high-performance materials for serial additive manufacturing," said Equispheres CEO Kevin Nicholds. "North American supply of critical materials such as aluminum-scandium alloys is a key step toward securing the aerospace supply chain."

Long overlooked due to its scattered distribution, scandium remains difficult to produce at scale despite being more abundant in Earth's crust than lead – a constraint that has kept global output low and supply chains heavily dependent on Chinese, Russian, and Kazakh sources.

New recovery efforts in Canada, however, are beginning to shift that balance – momentum that partnerships like APWORKS and Equispheres are now positioned to accelerate.

"Equispheres is a logical choice for expanding Scalmalloy production into North America," said APWORKS CEO Jonathan Meyer. "Their expertise in producing high-quality aluminum powders for additive manufacturing, combined with access to domestic aluminum and scandium sources, positions them well for building supply chain resilience."

APWORKS

A bionic cabin partition created by Airbus, Autodesk, and APWORKS illustrates how Scalmalloy and generative design deliver lightweight, load-bearing aerospace structures.

Beyond raw availability, domestic production of Scalmalloy streamlines qualification and part certification processes by reducing lead times and material variability – factors that often limit implementation in regulated aerospace and defense systems. Powder produced to North American specifications can be aligned more directly with design, testing, and production schedules.

Equispheres' process yields spherical, size-controlled powder engineered for consistent flow and packing density. These properties support faster build rates, reduced defect occurrence, and tighter dimensional accuracy – factors essential to scaling metal additive manufacturing in aerospace, propulsion, and satellite component production.

As global supply chains evolve to prioritize regional production of strategic materials, the APWORKS–Equispheres partnership aligns with broader Western initiatives to secure alloy inputs for aircraft, defense platforms, and industrial systems. Scalmalloy's entry into North American production adds a flight-proven, data-supported material to the region's additive manufacturing infrastructure.

Already validated in Formula 1 racing and aerospace prototypes, Scalmalloy delivers the structural performance – high tensile strength, fatigue resistance, corrosion durability – required for next-generation manufacturing.

Further updates on production timelines, distribution networks, and technical alignment are expected as APWORKS and Equispheres advance operations.