Titomic reckons its soon-to-open Melbourne 3D printing plant will use more titanium powder next year than the 154 tonnes the entire world used last year.

The additive manufacturer just raised $12 million to accelerate its development plans and secure supply of the crucial powder.

“We can use over 500kg of titanium powder in one machine per day,” boss Jeff Lang told Stockhead.

“Securing the supply chain will give us high volumetric buying power to get favourable powder supply.”

The company says it overcomes previous limitations in 3D printing for metals with its kinetic fusion equipment to manufacture complex parts without shape or size constraints – at up to 30 times faster than conventional hardware.

Titomic’s new Melbourne plant — set to open later this month — will house a 3D metal printer with a 40.5 cubic metre area — and will be the biggest additive manufacturing machine in the world.

Shares in the company have surged since its September listing – closing at $1.53 on Monday, a 765 per cent premium to its 20c offer price.

It is a development that has even attracted the interest on the other side of the world.

Mr Lang has been invited to discuss the company’s tech at the St Petersburg Economic Forum next month – alongside some of the biggest producers of titanium.

ASX-listed Titomic is about to open the world's biggest 3D printing plant in Melbourne. Pic: Titomic
ASX-listed Titomic is about to open the world’s biggest 3D printing plant in Melbourne. Pic: Titomic

“None of the major producers ever envisaged that we could print with titanium of this scale,” he told Stockhead.

“…We are the first metal printing company that are doing it at this industrial level and have been inundated by interest from the sector.”

He says the tech – developed in conjunction with the CSIRO – has the potential to unlock a lucrative mineral sands industry in Australia, harnessing the natural resource found along the east coast to Cape York and over to Geraldton.

“We have a world leading supply that is going untouched,” he said.

“Titanium is an amazing metal and has a preference to be used but is cost prohibitive…
If it could get down to $20-50 per kilogram it has potential for broader industries.”

Titomic (TTT) shares since listing in September.
Titomic (ASX:TTT) shares since listing in September.

At present, titanium in its solid form will set you back $15-50 per kilogram, but in its powder form it ranges from $250 to $800 per kilogram.

Alongside securing supply – its looking to acquire IP to refine the powder further to the highest purity for use in its plant.

So far TTT has the interest of the defence, shipbuilding, mining and oil and gas industries – as well as consumer goods like golf clubs and bicycles… even European luxury luggage.

In this week’s quarterly the company reported $28,000 in receipts – what it hopes new chief Gilbert Michaca will ramp up into the global market.

The former bomb-detection tech boss takes the reigns from June, leaving Mr Lang to step back into the chief technology officer job.

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