Metal Powder Works (ASX: MPW) has signed a Powder Partner agreement with CenterLine (Windsor) Limited to develop advanced metal powder materials for cold spray applications. The Metal Powder Works CenterLine partnership combines MPW’s DirectPowder™ technology with CenterLine’s Supersonic Spray Technologies platform, targeting the automotive tooling market with Kirksite, a zinc-aluminium alloy.
Metal Powder Works partners with CenterLine to target automotive tooling market
The Metal Powder Works CenterLine partnership represents MPW’s entry into the global automotive industry. CenterLine, a privately held Canadian corporation with over 65 years of business experience, operates across 9 manufacturing sites in 7 countries and employs approximately 530 people. The company serves OEMs and Tier suppliers in automotive, mass transit, aerospace, and defence industries.
The collaboration has been driven by direct automotive customer demand to evaluate cold spray technology using Kirksite. This zinc-aluminium alloy serves as a practical bridge between digital design and final mass-produced steel tooling across automotive, aerospace, and defence sectors.
CenterLine’s established relationships with major automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers provide MPW with an accelerated pathway to commercialisation. The partnership positions the specialty materials company to supply engineered powder feedstock as industries increasingly adopt cold spray for tooling repair and rapid prototyping.
John Barnes, Managing Director
“This collaboration is about meeting customers where speed, flexibility, and cost matter most. By combining our powder development capabilities with CenterLine’s cold spray technology, we’re opening the door to faster repairs and more agile tooling strategies without waiting weeks for a recast tool.”
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Why Kirksite matters for cold spray tooling
Kirksite is a zinc-aluminium alloy valued for its role in creating temporary tooling during product development. Manufacturing companies use Kirksite tooling to test designs and produce limited quantities before investing in expensive final steel tooling. This approach reduces capital costs and shortens lead times whilst maintaining good dimensional accuracy.
The alloy offers moderate tool life suitable for limited production runs. For manufacturers developing new vehicle models or testing aerospace components, Kirksite provides the speed and flexibility needed without the six-figure investment required for production-grade steel tooling.
Key applications include:
- Automotive sheet-metal tryout
- Aerospace forming tools
- Plastics moulding inserts
- Composite lay-up moulds
Kirksite represents a new alloy addition to MPW’s DirectPowder™ portfolio, which now spans 25+ materials including high-strength aluminium, copper, copper nickel alloys, CP-Ti, and Zircaloy. The development of Kirksite powder for cold spray applications addresses specific customer requirements in prototyping and short-run forming environments.
Market opportunity and commercial pathway
The Kirksite addressable market is estimated at USD 100-300 million in the automotive industry alone. Research & Markets estimates the US composite tooling market to be worth approximately USD 600 million in 2025, highlighting the broader opportunity for advanced tooling solutions.
| Market Segment | Estimated Value (USD) |
|---|---|
| Automotive tooling (Kirksite) | $100-300 million |
| US composite tooling market (2025) | ~$600 million |
Initial development and validation work will begin immediately. Upon successful completion, MPW and CenterLine intend to negotiate a commercial offtake agreement establishing minimum annual volumes, pricing structures, and lead times for ongoing powder supply. This structure provides revenue visibility once the validation phase concludes.
Broader automotive and industrial applications are anticipated as the material platform matures. The partnership extends beyond immediate Kirksite development to position MPW within CenterLine’s global manufacturing network spanning Canada, USA, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Romania, India, and China.
Cold spray technology explained
Cold spray is a process that deposits metal powder particles onto surfaces at high velocity without melting them. Unlike traditional welding, which uses heat to fuse materials together, cold spray accelerates powder particles to supersonic speeds using compressed gas. When the particles impact the surface, they deform and bond mechanically.
This approach is particularly suited for tooling repair because it restores material properties without introducing heat-related distortion or metallurgical changes. Traditional weld repair can alter the structure and properties of tooling materials, potentially affecting dimensional accuracy and performance. Cold spray avoids these issues entirely.
MPW’s DirectPowder™ material has been independently validated as achieving better results than legacy atomised powders. The CenterLine partnership extends this proven capability into a new alloy system (Kirksite) and a new end-market (automotive tooling), demonstrating the breadth and versatility of the DirectPowder™ platform.
Management commentary
A CenterLine spokesperson explained the technical rationale for the partnership, stating: “Cold spray is uniquely suited for tooling repair because it allows us to restore material properties without introducing the heat-related distortion or metallurgical changes associated with traditional weld repair. Partnering with MPW enables us to pair advanced powder engineering with our Supersonic Spray Technologies platform, delivering a high-performance Kirksite repair solution tailored specifically to the speed and cost pressures of today’s automotive programmes.”
CenterLine’s Supersonic Spray Technologies Division supplies equipment, consumables, and process development expertise for commercial applications of cold spray. The division has established itself as a leader in enabling advanced deposition solutions across automotive, aerospace, and industrial markets.
The partnership combines complementary capabilities. MPW contributes expertise in engineered metal powders produced via its patented DirectPowder™ process, whilst CenterLine provides experience in cold spray systems and process optimisation. Together, the companies aim to develop a Kirksite cold spray solution that extends tool life, reduces downtime, and lowers overall cost for automotive manufacturers.
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Next steps and strategic outlook
The immediate priorities for the Metal Powder Works CenterLine partnership follow a structured development pathway:
- Development and validation of Kirksite cold spray solution
- Negotiation of commercial offtake agreement upon successful validation
- Expansion into broader automotive and industrial applications
MPW has established strong credentials in aerospace, defence, and energy applications. The automotive sector represents a substantial new addressable market for the company’s engineered metal powders. The partnership provides access to CenterLine’s established customer relationships and global manufacturing footprint.
In 2024, Metal Powder Works was named Material Company of the Year by the 3D Printing Industry Awards. The company’s DirectPowder™ process represents the first innovation in powder manufacturing in over 50 years, converting premium bar stock into quality powder whilst significantly improving yield and affordability.
The current portfolio of 25+ powders positions MPW to serve multiple markets as industries adopt cold spray technology. As automotive, aerospace, and defence sectors increasingly utilise cold spray for tooling repair and rapid prototyping, the company is positioned to supply the engineered powder feedstock required for these applications.
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