Nikon Installs Ultra-Large 3D Metal Printer with U.S. Navy Support

On 16 September 2025, Nikon Advanced Manufacturing Inc. announced that the U.S. Navy’s Maritime Industrial Base (MIB) Program will fund the installation of the company’s first ultra-large format NXG 600E metal additive manufacturing system at its Technology Center in Long Beach, California. The NXG 600E, a Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) machine built by Nikon SLM Solutions, represents one of the largest and most advanced metal 3D printers currently available. The machine will be operated by Nikon AM Synergy Inc. to qualify new materials, generate technical data packages, and produce high-complexity components for naval, hypersonic, aerospace, and defense applications. This initiative signals a clear commitment by the Navy to integrate large-scale additive manufacturing into its supply chains, enhancing resilience and supporting both shipbuilding and maintenance operations. For Nikon, it represents a critical milestone in expanding its role in the defense industrial base. The Maritime Industrial Base Program is a strategic U.S. Navy initiative aimed at revitalizing domestic shipbuilding capacity and ensuring technological superiority against near-peer adversaries. By financing the installation of advanced manufacturing systems like the NXG 600E, the program is directly addressing vulnerabilities in industrial capacity, workforce readiness, and supply chain resilience.