Alloyed Ltd, an Oxford-based company specializing in advanced metal manufacturing, has secured £37 million in Series B funding to expand its operations in the UK and US.
Backed by major investors like Japan’s SPARX, the Development Bank of Japan, UK’s Aviva Investors, and Germany’s Future Industry Ventures, the company is poised to revolutionize industries such as aerospace, electronics, and automotive.
Alloyed’s cutting-edge technology, including 3D printing and digital alloy design, enables the creation of stronger, lighter, and more sustainable metals, attracting major clients like Boeing, Microsoft, and BMW.
This investment will help scale up their facilities in Abingdon and Seattle, reinforcing their position as leaders in high-performance metal production. By reducing waste and improving efficiency, their technology aligns with the push for greener manufacturing, addressing concerns over industrial carbon emissions.
The aerospace sector, in particular, stands to benefit from lightweight, durable alloys that could cut emissions by up to 15%, as highlighted by a University of Cambridge study.
So, what’s the deal here, and why should you care?
Let’s break it down.
Alloyed, a company born out of Oxford University’s brain trust back in 2017, has been quietly revolutionizing how we make metal parts. They’re now aiming to be global leaders in making high-tech alloys, special metal mixes, for industries like aerospace, electronics, and even cars.
They’re doing it with cutting-edge tech like 3D printing (or additive manufacturing, if you want to sound fancy) and digital tools that design these metals faster and smarter than ever before.
You might be wondering, “Why all the fuss over metal?” Well, the stuff Alloyed makes isn’t your average steel or aluminum.
Their alloys are custom-built to be super strong yet lightweight, perfect for a jet engine that needs to soar without guzzling fuel, or a satellite that has to survive the harshness of space.
They’ve already got big names like Boeing, Microsoft, and BMW on board, using their materials in everything from VR headsets to car parts. The smartwatch on your wrist might owe its sleek design to Alloyed’s wizardry.
According to a 2023 report from MarketsandMarkets, the global additive manufacturing market is expected to hit £60 billion by 2028, growing at a clip of 20% per year.
Alloyed’s riding that wave, and with one of Europe’s biggest fleets of 3D printing machines, they’re not just players, they’re pacesetters. Their tech cuts waste, saves time, and makes parts that traditional methods can’t touch.
It’s like the difference between hand-stitching a shirt and using a high-tech sewing machine.
SPARX and the Development Bank of Japan leading the charge shows Japan’s betting big on Alloyed’s future.
Takaki Demichi, SPARX’s head of next-gen investments, put it plainly: “Alloyed’s cracked the code on problems that have held back 3D printing for years. Their data-driven approach is a game-changer.”
Meanwhile, Yuki Takemori from DBJ added, “We love that this comes from academic roots, it’s innovation with substance.” Japan’s got a knack for tech investment, and their interest here signals Alloyed’s on the right track.
Then there’s the UK’s Aviva Investors and Germany’s Future Industry Ventures jumping in, alongside loyal backers like Anglo American, a mining titan, and JX Advanced Metals, a Japanese metals firm.
It’s a global posse, and it’s not just about cash, it’s about trust. These investors see Alloyed as a bridge between brainy research and real-world products, something the UK’s particularly good at.
In 2022, UK universities spun out over 160 companies, per the government’s Innovate UK data, and Alloyed’s a shining example.
The tech: How they’re pulling it off
So how does Alloyed do it? It’s all about their digital platforms, think of them as super-smart computer programs that design alloys and tell 3D printers exactly what to do.
Traditional metal-making can take months of trial and error, but Alloyed’s tech speeds that up big time. They’re not just guessing; they’re using data to nail the perfect mix for, say, a jet turbine blade that won’t crack under pressure.
CEO Michael Holmes is excited about what’s next.
“This funding lets us grow our team, our facilities, and our tech,” he told BusinessCloud media outlet. “We’re cutting costs, reducing waste, and making metals that perform better, it’s a win-win. The UK could lead the world in this stuff, and we’re proud to be driving that.”
Holmes isn’t exaggerating. The UK’s engineering and materials science scene is top-notch, Oxford alone has produced Nobel Prize-winning research in this field, and Alloyed’s tapping into that legacy.
Industries are screaming for materials that can keep up with modern demands, think greener planes, smarter gadgets, and tougher cars. Alloyed’s push for sustainability, like using less raw material and energy, fits right into global goals.
The International Energy Agency says manufacturing accounts for 30% of global CO2 emissions, so any step toward efficiency matters.
A 2024 study from the University of Cambridge found that advanced alloys could cut aerospace emissions by up to 15% if widely adopted.
Alloyed’s work could help make that happen, and with their US expansion, they’re positioning to grab a slice of the American market, where aerospace spending hit £200 billion in 2023, per the Aerospace Industries Association.
The UK government’s been pushing advanced manufacturing as a growth area, £4.7 billion was pledged in the 2023 budget, so Alloyed’s timing is spot-on.
If Alloyed keeps innovating, they could help the UK cement its rep as a tech powerhouse.
And for everyday folks, it means better products, planes that fly farther on less fuel, gadgets that last longer, maybe even cars that don’t weigh a ton. As Holmes put it, “We’re just getting started.”
If they pull this off, the future of metal might just be made in Oxford, and Seattle too.
