6K Additive shop floor.
6K Additive: Burgettstown, Pennsylvania — 6K Additive, a global leader in advanced metal powder production, has been selected as the preferred supplier of additive manufacturing powders to AGF Defcom, marking a significant strategic partnership aimed at supporting the rapidly expanding suppressor market. The announcement was made on January 19 during the SHOT Show 2026 in Las Vegas.
Under the agreement, 6K Additive will supply high-performance metal powders used in AGF Defcom’s additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, of firearm suppressors. Central to the partnership is the introduction of a closed-loop upcycling programme that will convert AGF Defcom’s manufacturing scrap — including both solid metal waste and unused powder — back into premium-grade metal powder.
This process will be carried out using 6K Additive’s proprietary UniMelt® microwave plasma production system, enabling a fully domestic, secure supply chain while significantly reducing material waste and production costs. The approach not only supports sustainability goals but also improves manufacturing efficiency in a sector experiencing unprecedented demand.
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Turning Scrap into Strategic Advantage
Zoltan Kovacs, Owner and CEO of AGF Defcom, described the partnership as transformational for the company’s operations.
“The suppressor market is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, and our investment in additive manufacturing is driving significant interest,” Kovacs said. “To succeed with this technology, high-quality powder is a non-negotiable requirement. While partnering with 6K Additive ensures a premium domestic supply, the ability to upcycle our scrap is the real game changer. We have successfully transformed what was once a logistical and financial burden into a high-value asset that directly improves our bottom line.”
By reclaiming and reprocessing scrap material internally, AGF Defcom is expected to gain greater cost predictability and resilience at a time when manufacturers across the defence and firearms industries are under pressure to scale production rapidly.
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‘Year of the Suppressor’
The partnership comes as the suppressor industry enters what analysts are calling an explosive growth phase in 2026. A key catalyst has been the removal of the long-standing $200 federal tax stamp, a regulatory change that has unlocked significant pent-up consumer demand.
As a result, suppressor applications have surged, the market has broadened to include more affordable consumer offerings, and industry observers have dubbed 2026 the “Year of the Suppressor.” Forecasts point to record-breaking sales and a wave of first-time buyers, creating a high-volume manufacturing environment that is well suited to advanced production technologies such as metal additive manufacturing.
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Additive Manufacturing Takes Centre Stage
Scott Dunham, Executive Vice President of Research at Additive Manufacturing Research, said the suppressor sector is on track to become one of the most additive-dominated markets in metal manufacturing.
“The additive suppressor market is one we’ve been watching since 2017, and its impact today on metal additive manufacturing is undeniable,” Dunham said. “Additive technologies have enabled both business model innovation and product innovation in the area of suppressors, and within five years we expect penetration of metal AM technologies into this market to exceed 70 percent.”
He compared the shift to previous industry transformations driven by additive manufacturing, such as polymer printing in the hearing aid industry in the late 2000s and metal printing in space and rocket propulsion. “Suppressors are the latest market that will flip to an additive-dominant production model this decade,” he added.
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Strengthening Domestic Manufacturing
Frank Roberts, CEO of 6K Additive, highlighted both the commercial and strategic importance of the collaboration, particularly given the growth trajectory of the suppressor market.
“With the suppressor market growing at a staggering 265 percent in just five years, teaming up with AGF Defcom is a perfect strategic fit,” Roberts said. “They have a 25-year legacy of manufacturing excellence, and we are excited to support their high-growth trajectory.”
Roberts also emphasised the significance of the closed-loop recycling model and the fact that both companies are US-based suppliers. “AGF Defcom truly understands the importance of converting scrap into high-performance powder. The fact that we are both US suppliers makes this collaboration even more significant for the defence sector and domestic manufacturing,” he said.
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A Model for the Future
The 6K Additive–AGF Defcom partnership highlights how advanced manufacturing, sustainability and supply-chain security are becoming increasingly intertwined. As demand for suppressors continues to rise and production volumes scale up, closed-loop additive manufacturing models such as this are expected to play a critical role in shaping the future of defence and firearms manufacturing in the United States.
By combining high-quality domestic powder production with innovative recycling technology, the partnership positions both companies to capitalise on market growth while setting a benchmark for efficiency, sustainability and resilience in additive manufacturing.
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