3D Systems has entered a five-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the Savannah River National Laboratory to develop additive manufacturing technologies for nuclear power generation and national security applications.
The collaboration, led by 3D Systems' president and CEO Jeff Graves, will focus on materials development, equipment enhancement, and process optimization using artificial intelligence and machine learning. The partnership will also address manufacturing systems, cybersecurity, and professional training programs, with 3D Systems installing equipment at the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative (AMC) facility in South Carolina.
The initiative targets advanced reactor designs and small modular reactors (SMRs), leveraging 3D printing to produce complex components from high-temperature nickel superalloys and radiation-tolerant materials. These materials are intended for use in heat exchangers, internal reactor components, pumps, and valves.
The International Energy Agency projects SMR capacity could reach 40 gigawatts by 2050 under current policies, rising to 120 gigawatts in accelerated scenarios. The partnership aligns with growing industry efforts to scale SMR deployment as a key component of future energy infrastructure.
The AMC facility, inaugurated in August 2025, serves as a public-private research hub managed by the Battelle Savannah River Alliance under the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management. 3D Systems' stock closed 2.48% higher at $3.30 on Thursday, with pre-market trading at $3.35.
