Metal Powder Works (ASX:MPW) announced a strategic partnership with CenterLine (Windsor) to develop advanced metal powder materials specifically for cold spray applications within the automotive sector.
The collaboration combines MPW's proprietary DirectPowder engineered metal powder capabilities with CenterLine’s Supersonic Spray Technologies platform.
The initiative is being driven by demand from an automotive customer seeking to evaluate cold spray technology using Kirksite, a zinc-aluminum alloy.
"Kirksite is a long-standing staple in the automotive, aerospace, and defence industries, valued for its role as a practical 'bridge' between digital design and final, mass-produced steel tooling."
By developing Kirksite powder for cold spray applications, MPW aims to address a significant market opportunity estimated to be worth between US$100-US$300 million in the automotive industry alone.
The partnership represents a major entry point for MPW into the global automotive market, expanding its reach beyond its traditional aerospace and defence sectors.
The collaboration builds on recent milestones where MPW's DirectPowder process has demonstrated superior performance compared to legacy atomisation techniques.
Initial development and validation work regarding the new Kirksite application is scheduled to commence immediately, aiming to capitalise on the growing industry trend of adopting cold spray technology for tooling repair and rapid prototyping.
At the time of reporting, Metal Powder Works' share price was $2.70.