Future of Advanced Manufacturing: Highlights from the Cold Spray and Large-Scale AM Conference in Massachusetts

Global experts converge in Worcester, MA to showcase innovation and collaboration across advanced manufacturing fields

June 18, 2025, Worcester, MA – Solvus Global, a leading materials and manufacturing technology organization based in Massachusetts, proudly hosted the 2025 Action Team Event from May 20–22 at the DCU Center in Worcester. Drawing upwards of 400 participants from more than 40 countries, the event united university researchers and industry leaders for the Cold Spray Action Team (CSAT) and Large-Scale Additive Action Team (LSAAT) conferences, which continue to serve as global platforms for advancing additive manufacturing technologies. Government agencies were restricted from conference attendance due to travel limitations.

Nonetheless, this year’s conference offered a robust agenda with over 50 technical presentations, live demonstrations, and networking events, all designed to spark innovation, foster collaboration, and accelerate real-world application of advanced manufacturing technologies such as cold spray additive manufacturing (AM).

CSAT 2025 opened with a keynote by Dr. Victor Champagne, reflecting on the evolution and future of cold spray additive manufacturing. “In the early 2000s, we were making simple parts but now the technology has progressed from hardware to software to institute controls to materials development; we started off with nonstructural repairs, graduated to structural repairs, then off to additive manufacturing. Next, [the cold spray community] wants to formalize data acquisition and data management to grow the ecosystem and further accelerate our advancements.”

Key CSAT presentation sessions explored materials in extreme environments, advanced repair applications, nitrogen-based cold spray development, and new quality control approaches. Live discussions also explored in-situ sensing, process standardization, and scaling cold spray AM for aerospace and energy components, positioning cold spray as a maturing solution for industrial-scale repair and manufacturing.

LSAAT 2025 showcased the growing impact of directed energy deposition (DED), additive friction stir deposition (AFSD), and cold spray on critical infrastructure, defense logistics, and space manufacturing. With sessions moderated by experts from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), HAMR, and EWI, the conference emphasized cross-process integration, material qualification, and production scaling. Technical leaders from organizations such as Boeing, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), AML3D, and Ohio State University presented compelling case studies showing how additive processes are being adopted for field-repairable artillery, oil and gas infrastructure, and aerospace components.

The 2025 Action Team Event also featured an academic poster competition comprised of 22 student and postdoctoral from institutions including Northeastern University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Florida International University (FIU), and Baylor University. Awards were presented during the closing ceremonies, recognizing excellence in research and innovation.

Over 25 exhibitors representing a wide range of sponsors—from leading OEMs to emerging startups—lined the concourse and exhibit halls with state-of-the-art technologies and equipment. VRC Metal Systems, Titomic, and SPEE3D were among the sponsors who showcased full-scale parts, tooling systems, diagnostic platforms, and feedstock materials, offering attendees a tangible look at the field’s progress and practical applications.

With strong sponsorship from leading OEMs and the support of local vendors, CSAT and LSAAT 2025 exemplified the dynamic growth of the additive manufacturing ecosystem. As both communities expand their focus from lab-scale feasibility to scalable, real-world deployment, the 2025 Action Team Event reinforced the vital role of shared knowledge and cross-sector collaboration in cold spray and large-scale additive technologies.

Learn more on the Cold Spray Action Team and Large Scale Additive Action Team by visiting the respective websites for information regarding events, webinars, and sponsorship opportunities.

Contact the organizing committee directly via email: support@coldsprayteam.com

About CSAT (Cold Spray Action Team)

Founded by Dr. Victor K. Champagne Jr., CSAT provides a global platform for advancing cold spray technology through collaboration among researchers, OEMs, and end users across defense, aerospace, and energy sectors.

About LSAAT (Large Scale Additive Action Team)

Led by Dr. Aaron Birt, LSAAT unites leaders in additive manufacturing to address critical challenges in scaling, qualification, and integration of large-format AM processes across industries.

About Solvus Global

Solvus Global is a technology innovator specializing in materials processing, additive manufacturing, and sustainable production solutions. With facilities in Worcester, Leominster, and Webster, MA, and a satellite location at Missouri S&T, Solvus Global serves as a hub for research, prototyping, and scaled manufacturing in advanced technologies.