Innovative Metal Alloying: Foundation Alloy Puts a New Spin on Ancient Craft
Foundation Alloy has developed a unique alloying technique that smashes metal particles instead of melting them, offering better properties and more sustainable processes for various industries.
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For thousands of years, the process of making alloys has remained largely unchanged. But an early-stage startup called Foundation Alloy is revolutionizing this age-old practice by breaking down metals into powder and then smashing them together to create new materials with superior properties.
Smashing Metals for Better Alloys
Jake Guglin, co-founder and CEO of Foundation Alloy, explains that their method involves 'smashing metal powder particles together instead of melting them.' This process, which they call solid-state alloying, allows the creation of properties that traditional methods can't achieve. The startup is already making a name for itself by working with companies in automotive, aerospace, semiconductor, and defense industries, as well as those manufacturing chef's knives and luxury watches.
Scaling Up and Investment
To meet growing demand, Foundation Alloy has secured $22 million in Series A funding led by Voyager Ventures. Other investors include Trust Ventures, Yamaha Motors, America’s Frontier Fund, Overlap Holdings, Material Impact, Engine Ventures, El Cap, and Kanematsu Corporation, which will also distribute the startup's metals in Japan and Southeast Asia.
Environmental Benefits
The solid-state process used by Foundation Alloy is significantly more energy-efficient than traditional methods. According to Guglin, it uses around an order of magnitude less energy, making it a greener alternative that can save companies money while reducing waste.
Pioneering New Materials
Foundation Alloy's technology emerged from scientific research over the last 20 years. The process involves repeatedly smashing different metal powders together until they form one new metal, solving age-old tradeoffs in material properties. This method allows them to create materials that are both heat-resistant and durable, which is a significant improvement over traditional alloying techniques.
Applications Across Industries
The startup's first products have included tooling parts for automakers as well as aerospace and defense companies. Within the defense sector, they're working on components for drones, where the supply chain is designed for F-35 fighter jets but needs more parts per month.
