SRNL Partnership Boosts Advanced Energy and National Security Applications

Savannah River National Laboratory Director Johney Green, left, and 3D Systems Vice President of Product Marty Johnson sign a cooperative research and development agreement to accelerate innovation in additive manufacturing for advanced energy generation and national security applications.

AIKEN, S.C. — Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) recently announced a cooperative research and development agreement with the company 3D Systems to accelerate innovation in additive manufacturing for advanced energy generation and national security applications.

The partnership centers on leveraging the unique position of SRNL’s Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative (AMC) as South Carolina’s only national laboratory-operated site located on a public university campus. The AMC marked its first year this summer.

Through the agreement signed at the AMC Partnerships Day, SRNL and 3D Systems will jointly pursue advancements in materials development, equipment enhancements, process optimization enabled by artificial intelligence and machine learning, manufacturing systems, cybersecurity and workforce development training.

A primary emphasis of the collaboration is the application of additive manufacturing to critical energy challenges, especially nuclear energy and broader energy infrastructure. That process enables the fabrication of complex components from advanced alloys that are difficult to produce using conventional methods.

By combining 3D Systems’ commercial additive manufacturing platforms and materials expertise with SRNL’s extensive domain knowledge in nuclear materials, environmental stewardship, and energy resilience, the collaboration aims to help bridge laboratory innovation with industrial readiness. SRNL is the sole national laboratory sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management.

“This collaboration positions SRNL and 3D Systems to deliver groundbreaking additive manufacturing technologies, strengthen U.S. manufacturing competitiveness and drive forward the next era of additive manufacturing innovation,” said Roderick Jackson, associate laboratory director for science, energy and innovation at SRNL.

3D Systems Vice President of Product Marty Johnson demonstrates a 3D printing system during the recent Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative Partnerships Day at Savannah River National Laboratory.

Cutting-edge 3D Systems equipment has been installed at the AMC and is supported by facility upgrades and resident additive manufacturing subject-matter experts. This infrastructure will enable both world-class research and the demonstration of production-ready processes, positioning the partners to develop scalable manufacturing solutions with broader implications for high-value industrial markets including nuclear energy, aerospace and defense, and environmental technologies.

“This agreement underscores SRNL’s commitment to building world-class research capabilities, leveraging partnerships to enhance its competitive edge and solidify its presence as a leader in additive manufacturing technologies,” said G. Jeremy Leong, AMC director.

In addition to technology development, the partnership expands opportunities for training and developing the next generation of additive manufacturing scientists, engineers and technicians, strengthening the regional and national advanced manufacturing workforce.

“We look forward to partnering with SRNL at the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative and deploying 3D Systems’ leading additive manufacturing technologies,” said Jeff Graves, president and CEO of 3D Systems. “This agreement demonstrates the impact and importance of high-quality 3D printing materials and technologies on key industrial markets, particularly energy and national security, and on developing the skilled workforce those markets require.”