ASTM International and Nikon Advanced Manufacturing Strengthen U.S. Defense Supply Chain with New Partnership
The partnership will prioritize co-developing comprehensive education, training, and personnel certification programs.
Jun 24, 2025
ASTM International and Nikon Advanced Manufacturing Inc. (Nikon AM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on a series of strategic initiatives aimed at accelerating advanced manufacturing capabilities, with a particular focus on defense applications and workforce development.
The partnership will prioritize co-developing comprehensive education, training, and personnel certification programs tailored to Department of Defense (DoD) needs, particularly those of the U.S. Navy, and will be hosted primarily at the Nikon AM Technology Center in Long Beach, CA. Nikon AM’s Long Beach facility features the additive manufacturing (AM) industry’s most advanced large and ultra-large format laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) systems alongside leading-edge metallurgy and metrology capabilities. Education programs at this facility will serve to train the next generation of manufacturing professionals, equipping them with the skills required to sustain and grow domestic production capacity.
In addition to joint education and research initiatives, the partnership will support engagement with federal agencies and pursue government-funded projects that promote manufacturing innovation. Nikon AM will also play an active role in ASTM-hosted events, including the ASTM International Conference on Advanced Manufacturing (ICAM), as well as co-led seminars and workshops on topics ranging from process qualification to digital transformation.
“It has become increasingly clear that advanced manufacturing is critical to national competitiveness, and over the past couple of years, Nikon AM has been executing a strategic plan focused on onshoring these vital capabilities. In order to develop, build and operate the next generation of manufacturing equipment and solutions, we also need to inspire, educate and train the next-generation workforce about AM technology,” said Hamid Zarringhalam, CEO of Nikon AM. “Combined, Nikon AM and ASTM bring nearly 235 years of legacy in quality, precision, and integrity—names that people already know and trust.”
“For more than a century, ASTM has helped industries move from possibility to production by transforming markets, enabling standards, and assisting in technological developments,” said Andrew G. Kireta, Jr., President of ASTM International. “This collaboration with Nikon AM brings together two institutions with unmatched legacy and global recognition. Together, we’re reinforcing the connection between workforce development, resilient supply chains, and national security—all while helping accelerate the adoption of advanced manufacturing at an industrial scale.”
The MOU establishes a framework for the two organizations to collaborate in future opportunities while maintaining confidentiality and protecting intellectual property as they work toward formalizing additional agreements.
About Nikon Advanced Manufacturing Inc.
Founded in April 2023, in California, USA, Nikon Advanced Manufacturing Inc. (Nikon AM) is the global headquarters of Nikon’s Advanced Manufacturing Business Unit. We pioneer 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.
Leveraging more than a century of excellence in Nikon's applied optics and precision technologies alongside our global footprint, relentless commitment, and proven ability to scale, Nikon AM is synonymous with trust and innovation. Nikon AM will support its customers and partners long-term with cutting-edge, reliable solutions in additive manufacturing, precision subtractive processing, and other game-changing material processing technologies.
Media Inquiries: Gavin O’Reilly, tel +1.610.832.9618; goreilly@astm.org
Release #12026
###
