Velo3D Stock Price, News & Analysis

Velo3D, Inc. (Nasdaq: VELO) is a metal 3D printing technology company in the technology sector, operating within the computer hardware and additive manufacturing (AM) industry. The company focuses on metal additive manufacturing for high-value, mission-critical parts, with an emphasis on applications in defense, space, aviation, power generation, energy, and semiconductor markets. Its technology is positioned as an alternative to traditional manufacturing methods where complex geometries, demanding performance requirements, and supply chain constraints make conventional production difficult.

According to the company’s own descriptions in multiple press releases, legacy metal AM has historically been limited in its capabilities, restricting its use to specific niches. Velo3D states that it has addressed many of these limitations so that engineers can design and print the parts they want, rather than redesigning around process constraints. This focus on design freedom and the ability to manufacture parts that were previously considered impossible to produce is central to Velo3D’s value proposition.

Integrated metal additive manufacturing platform

Velo3D offers a fully integrated metal AM solution that combines software, hardware, and process control. The platform includes:

• Flow print preparation software, which is used to prepare builds for production on Velo3D systems.
• The Sapphire family of printers, including large-format systems such as Sapphire XC, designed to produce complex metal parts.
• The Assure quality control system, which supports in-situ process monitoring and quality assurance.

These components are powered by Velo3D’s Intelligent Fusion manufacturing process, which the company highlights as the core process technology behind its systems. In earlier descriptions, the company also refers to its offering as an “intelligent metal additive manufacturing solution” that can improve performance, cost, and time in the production of high-value metal parts.

Focus on mission-critical and defense-related applications

Velo3D frequently describes itself as a provider of advanced metal additive manufacturing technology for mission-critical metal parts. Its systems are used to build components for space exploration, aviation, energy, and defense programs. The company notes that its customers use Velo3D technology to produce parts that were previously impossible to manufacture using traditional methods or legacy AM approaches.

Recent company communications emphasize a strong focus on aerospace and defense supply chains. Velo3D’s Rapid Production Solution (RPS) is highlighted as a way to move from prototyping into high-volume production of complex components. The company reports that RPS is used to address production bottlenecks, supply chain challenges, and the need for surge capacity in defense and space programs.

Rapid Production Solution (RPS) and quality management

Velo3D’s Rapid Production Solution (RPS) is described as a service and production offering that leverages the company’s systems, expertise, and capacity to provide scalable production of mission-critical parts. RPS is used to prototype and qualify additively manufactured alternatives to traditionally manufactured parts, particularly in defense and aerospace contexts. The company states that RPS can help reduce supply chain challenges, improve part delivery times, and support high-volume production.

The company has announced that its RPS Quality Management System has achieved AS9100D certification, a globally recognized aerospace quality standard. According to Velo3D, this certification confirms that its RPS processes meet stringent requirements for aviation, space, and defense supply chains and supports repeatability, traceability, and reliability at scale. This is particularly relevant for aerospace primes, defense contractors, and government agencies that require AS9100D-compliant suppliers.

Hardware capabilities and process control

Velo3D reports that all Sapphire printers are assembled in the United States and that the systems are capable of printing large parts, with examples of capabilities up to 600 mm in diameter and one meter in height across the Sapphire printer fleet. The company highlights the ability to produce large, complex geometries with minimal support structures, which is important for applications such as propulsion, turbomachinery, thermal management systems, and other complex hardware.

The company also emphasizes in-situ process monitoring and layer-by-layer control. Its systems incorporate closed-loop monitoring and quality control through the Assure system and Intelligent Fusion process. In collaboration with Dyndrite, Velo3D has enabled advanced users to gain vector-level control of laser speeds and feeds on Sapphire and Sapphire XC platforms, supporting toolpath optimization and process development that can scale into production.

Key markets and partnerships

Velo3D states that its technology enables customers in space exploration, aviation, power generation, energy, and semiconductor industries to innovate in their respective fields. The company notes that its customers can build mission-critical metal parts that were previously impossible to manufacture, and that its solution unlocks a wide breadth of design freedom.

Across multiple press releases, Velo3D references strategic relationships with companies and organizations such as SpaceX, Honeywell, Honda, Chromalloy, Lam Research, and Innovative Rocket Technologies Inc. (iRocket). It also describes collaborations with U.S. government and defense entities, including the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM), the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), and the Maritime Industrial Base Program. These collaborations focus on qualifying additively manufactured components, addressing manufacturing bottlenecks, and supporting shipbuilding and defense modernization efforts.

Velo3D has also partnered with Linde Advanced Material Technologies (Linde AMT) to supply domestically produced copper-nickel (CuNi) powder for use with Sapphire XC printers in support of U.S. Navy shipbuilding and the Maritime Industrial Base Program. The company highlights that this collaboration supports a fully U.S.-based additive manufacturing supply chain for certain naval components.

Materials and alloys

The company’s systems are used with various qualified metal alloys, including copper-nickel (CuNi) for naval applications. Velo3D has signed agreements to develop and qualify CuNi for its Sapphire printers and to support ship repairs and modernization efforts. It also references work on aluminum alloys, such as Aluminum CP1, for defense applications, and mentions that it explores several qualified alloys for use in its Sapphire family of printers, including large-format needs.

Role in supply chain resilience

Velo3D’s communications frequently emphasize its role in enhancing supply chain resilience, particularly for defense and aerospace programs. The company’s RPS and hardware platforms are used to address manufacturing bottlenecks, reduce repair delays, and provide surge capacity for critical systems. Its systems are described as meeting U.S. Department of Defense cybersecurity standards and capable of connecting securely to military networks, which is important for secure manufacturing environments.

Through cooperative research and development agreements, contracts, and collaborations, Velo3D positions its technology as a way to mitigate supply chain challenges in ground combat vehicles, naval shipbuilding, and weapon system programs. The company’s focus on domestic production, qualified materials, and certified quality management systems aligns with stated goals to support U.S.-based manufacturing resiliency.

Recognition and capital markets

Velo3D has been named as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies for 2024, according to multiple company press releases. The company also reports that it delivered its first Sapphire system in 2018 and has since acted as a strategic partner to various aerospace, defense, and industrial customers.

On the capital markets side, Velo3D’s common stock trades on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol VELO. The company has completed offerings of common stock and a private placement to support general corporate purposes and capital expenditures, including investments to meet demand for its Rapid Production Services serving the space and defense sectors. It has also disclosed a sale-leaseback transaction involving Sapphire and Sapphire XC printers and related equipment, which provides additional liquidity while allowing continued use of the equipment under a lease arrangement.

Business model and revenue drivers

Based on the company’s disclosures, Velo3D generates revenue from the sale of 3D printers and parts, with system sales described as a primary driver of revenue. The company also highlights its RPS parts production business as an area expected to contribute an increasing share of revenue under its go-to-market strategy. This indicates a mix of hardware sales and production services as key elements of its business model, supported by software and process control technologies.

Technology and open platform approach

Velo3D positions its platform as open and flexible, with integrations such as the Dyndrite LPBF Pro software enabling advanced research and production workflows. By giving users direct control over laser parameters and toolpaths, the company supports process development and optimization for demanding applications. This approach is intended to help customers move from manual, trial-and-error AM processes toward more automated, software-defined, production-ready workflows.

Overall, Velo3D’s core identity is that of a technology company in the metal 3D printing and computer hardware space, focused on enabling the production of complex, mission-critical metal parts across defense, space, aviation, energy, and related sectors through an integrated platform of printers, software, and quality control systems.