The Barnes Global Advisors Contracted by BPMI to Support Development of Additive Manufacturing Materials & Process Database
Pittsburgh, PA — July 30, 2026 — The Barnes Global Advisors (TBGA) has been contracted by Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc. (BPMI) to support the development and management of a comprehensive additive manufacturing (AM) materials and process database. The results of this project will be eligible for public release, supporting the advancement and alignment of efforts across the entire industry.
As BPMI advances its adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies to address historically long manufacturing cycles and the high cost or complexity of producing certain components, the organization is building a structured database of experimental material property data. This effort includes tested 316L stainless steel and Alloy 625 coupons fabricated using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) and gas metal arc directed energy deposition (GMA-DED) processes. The resulting data will form a comprehensive material property database of the materials produced to support AM engineering design efforts.
TBGA has been engaged to interpret, standardize, and manage incremental datasets received from additive manufacturing suppliers and testing partners. Drawing on its experience supporting Department of War Industrial Base Policy efforts and the U.S. Navy’s adoption of advanced manufacturing, TBGA brings extensive expertise in structuring AM data generation, analysis, and reporting.
TBGA has led multiple similar test campaigns and helped define industry best practices for generating reliable, consistent, and actionable material property datasets, helping close critical data gaps that have historically limited broader engineering adoption of additive manufacturing.
“Consistent, high-quality design property data is essential to rapid application of AM within the maritime industrial base,” says Nathan Weiderspahn, BPMI Executive Manager for Industrial Base Management. “This effort is an integral part of our digital manufacturing transition, accelerating delivery of additively manufactured components to the U.S. Navy.”
“TBGA is proud to support the generation, analysis, and reporting of material property data that enables confident engineering use of additive manufacturing across naval applications,” said Christina Kurth, Business Development Director of Advanced Manufacturing at The Barnes Global Advisors. “We value the opportunity to be part of these efforts and to help advance additive manufacturing where it can deliver meaningful impact.”
MEDIA CONTACT:
Cynthia Rogers
Senior Communications Strategist
cynthia@barnesglobaladvisors.com
About The Barnes Global Advisors
The Barnes Global Advisors (TBGA) is the leading independent engineering consultancy specializing in advanced manufacturing. With deep expertise in additive manufacturing, materials, qualification, and digital transformation, TBGA helps organizations accelerate innovation, optimize performance, and strengthen industrial competitiveness across commercial and defense sectors.
About Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc.
Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc. (BPMI) is a prime contractor for the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. BPMI is involved in the design, purchase, quality control, and delivery of major propulsion plant components for installation in nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, submarines, and prototype plants for the U.S. Navy. Teamwork, cooperation, and the pursuit of excellence have been the driving forces behind the growth and success of BPMI. For more information, visit www.bpmionline.com.