Exone Operating, LLC

Exone Operating, LLC is a for-profit corporate entity specializing in additive manufacturing and 3D printing research and development. The company provides advanced manufacturing technologies and materials research services to the U.S. federal government, primarily in the aerospace, defense, and energy sectors. Exone Operating has established itself as a leader in binder jet 3D printing technology, offering innovative solutions that support national defense and energy efficiency initiatives. Through its expertise in additive manufacturing, the company contributes to the development of cutting-edge technologies for various government agencies and prime contractors.

Exone Operating has received several significant federal contract awards from defense agencies. The company was awarded a $1.2 million Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract by the Army Space and Missile Defense Command to develop silicon carbide additive manufacturing capabilities for optics used in high-energy laser systems. Additionally, Exone received a $1.6 million contract from the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support to perform basic research services as part of the SBIR program. The company has also provided specialized equipment and repair services to the U.S. Army, including the sale of an ExOne S-MAX Pro Sand Mold Printer to the Army Materiel Command Contracting Command Rock Island Arsenal for $1.5 million, and repair services for sand printers and binder jet printers to the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command and the Engineer Research and Development Center. Exone has been involved in subcontract work as well, collaborating with prime contractors such as The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC and Physical Sciences Inc. These subcontracts involved binder jetting 3D parts, materials fabrication, and designing optimal geometric structures for catalyst performance within 3D printing constraints.

In terms of federal grant awards, Exone Operating received a significant cooperative agreement grant from the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. This $6.4 million grant, awarded in September 2020, focuses on the development of novel high-temperature ceramic heat exchangers using binder jet additive manufacturing. The project, set to run through November 2024, demonstrates Exone's capability to contribute to advanced energy technologies through its expertise in additive manufacturing. This grant showcases the company's ability to secure substantial funding for research and development in areas that align with national energy efficiency goals. The cooperative agreement format of this grant suggests a collaborative effort between Exone and the Department of Energy, potentially involving other partners or subcontractors, although specific details about additional participants are not provided in the available information.