Ampal, Inc. receives grant to fund R&D work on aluminium alloy powders for new applications

U.S. Metal Powders’production facility Ampal, Inc. in Palmerton, Pennsylvania, USA, has received a $10,000 investment from Ben Franklin Technology Partners of North-Eastern Pennsylvania. The investment is part of a series of investments amounting to about US$535,000 made in the region by BFTP/NEP on ten different companies. The investments are aimed at enabling Northeastern Pennsylvania to create a ‘better economic future by building partnerships that develop and apply technology for competitive advantage.’

It is to be noted that Ampal Inc.’s parent company, U.S. Metal Powders Inc., recently filed tariff exclusion requests with the U.S. Department of Commerce.  The Company President Louise Ramsey Thomas filed a request to pull off the tariffs on aluminium imports from Canada in the interest of a bigger community.

The investment in U.S. Metal Powders/Ampal will fund the R&D work on aluminium alloy powders for new applications. Ampal is partnering with Lehigh University’s Enterprise Systems Center, which is at the forefront of metals-based 3D printing research. The research on development of new alloy powders will enable the company to optimise its high-strength alloy powder portfolio to expand its marketability and gain a competitive edge.

Aluminum powder and aluminium alloy powders have a variety of uses like reagents in the chemical industry, explosives and propulsion, welding and conductive inks for solar cells etc.

U.S. Metal Powders, Inc., the North America’s largest and most productive aluminium atomizer markets its aluminium powders worldwide, offering a full-range of coarse to fine aluminium powders. It operates manufacturing facilities in Palmerton and Hermillon, France.

Ben Franklin Technology Partners is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and is funded by the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority. The initiative has reportedly helped to start 511 new companies and to develop 1,733 new products and processes so far.