Nikon SLM Solutions and NB Additive have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at expanding access to high-productivity metal additive manufacturing systems and enabling fully integrated production workflows across North America.

The collaboration combines Nikon SLM Solutions’ industrial multi-laser metal additive manufacturing platforms with NB Additive’s expertise in workflow integration, production strategy, and manufacturing implementation. Together, the companies aim to help manufacturers move beyond prototyping and toward scalable, repeatable production environments.

The partnership will focus on industrial metal additive manufacturing applications across aerospace, defense, energy, and high-performance industrial sectors, with particular emphasis on production-scale manufacturing and workflow optimization.

As manufacturers continue seeking ways to improve supply chain resilience, reduce production bottlenecks, and accelerate industrialization, demand for integrated additive manufacturing solutions continues to grow. The collaboration between NB Additive and Nikon SLM Solutions addresses key industry challenges including limited scalability of traditional additive systems, workflow fragmentation between printing and post-processing, and the need for clearer return-on-investment pathways for production additive manufacturing adoption.

“At Nikon SLM Solutions, we believe additive manufacturing reaches its full potential when it enables true industrial production,” said Sam O’Leary, CEO of Nikon SLM Solutions. “NB Additive brings deep expertise in workflow implementation and production strategy, making them a strong partner for helping manufacturers scale additive manufacturing beyond isolated applications and into repeatable industrial operations.”

NB Additive selected Nikon SLM Solutions based on the company’s leadership in multi-laser metal additive manufacturing, high-productivity systems, open parameter flexibility, and industrial reliability.

The partnership supports a broader shift occurring across the additive manufacturing industry: the transition from prototyping-focused deployments toward production-oriented manufacturing ecosystems capable of supporting enterprise-scale adoption.

“Additive manufacturing only becomes valuable when it works in production,” said Jens Kautzor, Co-Founder & Managing Director of NB Additive. “Our partnership with Nikon SLM Solutions allows us to bring true industrial capability to our customers—combining high-productivity printing with the workflow expertise needed to make it profitable. This is about moving the industry from promise to performance.”

NB Additive’s vendor-neutral approach focuses heavily on post-processing, automation, and workflow integration through a broader manufacturing ecosystem. The company supports manufacturers across both metal and polymer additive manufacturing, helping customers evaluate applications, justify investment decisions, and implement production-ready workflows.

The partnership is expected to support significant growth opportunities over the next 18–24 months as manufacturers increasingly adopt additive manufacturing for production-critical applications.

About NB Additive

NB Additive is an independent additive manufacturing sales and advisory firm focused on production-ready workflows. The company partners with leading OEMs and post-processing technology providers to help manufacturers move from prototyping to scalable, repeatable production. With a vendor-neutral approach and deep industry expertise, NB Additive delivers practical solutions across metals and polymers—from part selection and cost justification to full workflow integration.