By spearheading ultra-large format printing with Aheadd^® CP1 aluminum and Titanium Ti 64, the company is bringing elite, high-capacity production capabilities to the U.S. aerospace and space sectors

Beehive Industries, an American manufacturer of advanced propulsion systems for uncrewed aerial defense applications and a leading provider of additively enabled manufacturing solutions for space and A&D, today announced a multi-unit purchase of NXG 600E metal additive manufacturing systems from Nikon SLM Solutions, a unit of Nikon Advanced Manufacturing. This bold, self-funded investment equips Beehive with an elite capability in the United States, providing ultra-large format printing capacity that is currently limited in the domestic market.

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Beehive Industries is investing in a multi-unit order of Nikon SLM Solutions NXG 600E Systems to scale and meet surging space and A&D customer demand. [Photo Credit: Nikon SLM Solutions]

With this significant investment in NXG 600E systems, the largest machines manufactured by Nikon SLM Solutions, Beehive is branching out to significantly increase its large format printing capabilities. The NXG 600E systems feature a massive build envelope of 600x600x1500mm and twelve 1kW lasers, designed for the high-throughput serial production of large metal components. Operating one machine dedicated to Constellium’s Aheadd^® CP1 aluminum and the second dedicated to Titanium Ti 64 (Ti-6Al-4V), Beehive is equipped to manufacture whole vehicle bodies, large substructures for satellites, and other large, 3D-printed components for space and A&D customers.

“There is a heavy overlap between the customers who rely on Beehive’s propulsion solutions and those who require advanced aerospace printed solutions,” said Darius Ehteshami, Chief Operations and Finance Officer at Beehive Industries. “By investing proactively in these machines, Beehive is uniquely positioned to provide aerostructures and parts that enable our customers to fly higher and fly faster. This is Beehive doubling down on our history of large format additive manufacturing, supporting our customers in both the A&D area and in space.”

"Manufacturers supporting today's defense programs require production technology that can scale quickly and reliably," said Hamid Zarringhalam, CEO and General Manager of Nikon Advanced Manufacturing. "Beehive Industries has built an impressive business around advanced propulsion and aerospace manufacturing, and we're proud to support their continued growth with the NXG 600E platform." He further commented, “Our companies are deeply committed to enabling and scaling the defense industrial base, and this represents a key step in delivering the advanced manufacturing capabilities that are crucial to the United States and our allied partners.”

Both CP1 aluminum and Titanium Ti 64 are widely used in defense, modern space and aerospace manufacturing, particularly for advanced additive manufacturing. The addition of these systems solidifies Beehive’s vertically integrated engineering, additive manufacturing, and testing capabilities, ensuring that space and A&D companies have rapid, efficient access to domestic serial production for mission-critical components.

“This investment marks the natural evolution of our company, seamlessly carrying our legacy of large-format expertise forward into the next generation of manufacturing for our external parts customers across the space, defense, and aerostructures sectors,” said Jonaaron Jones, President of Additive Parts Sales at Beehive Industries.

Customers interested in booking time on these systems or learning more about Beehive’s additively enabled manufacturing solutions are encouraged to reach out to the Beehive team.

About Beehive Industries

Beehive Industries is a U.S.-based manufacturer specializing in the design and development of advanced, additively manufactured jet engines for uncrewed aerial defense applications. Leveraging innovative additive manufacturing techniques, Beehive delivers high-performance propulsion systems with unmatched speed, affordability, and scalability to meet the evolving needs of the warfighter and strengthen American defense superiority. For more information, visit www.beehive-industries.com.

About Nikon Advanced Manufacturing Inc.

Founded in April 2023, Nikon Advanced Manufacturing Inc. (Nikon AM) in California, USA, is the global headquarters of Nikon’s Advanced Manufacturing Business Unit. Nikon AM pioneers digital manufacturing solutions for the aerospace and defense, automotive, aviation, energy sectors and beyond, by integrating human creativity with machine precision in a globally connected society to transform the future of manufacturing.

Nikon SLM Solutions AG, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nikon Corporation and part of the Nikon Advanced Manufacturing portfolio, is redefining the future of metal additive manufacturing. Leveraging over a century of Nikon’s precision technology and applied optics expertise, we empower manufacturers to push the boundaries of design, performance, and industrial innovation. Nikon SLM Solutions’ portfolio of multi-laser systems, featuring up to 12 lasers and build rates of 1850 ccm/h, enables the rapid production of complex, high-performance parts at scale. By combining cutting-edge hardware with deep customer collaboration, Nikon SLM Solutions partners with aerospace, defense, automotive, energy, and other industries to transform production, unlock new possibilities, and accelerate the adoption of additive manufacturing technologies worldwide.

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