Continuum Powders to open new Houston HQ

Continuum Powders celebrates the grand opening of their new global headquarters, in Houston, Texas on Dec. 5, 2024. The launch of the facility marks a significant step forward in delivering an environmentally responsible solution from reclaimed metals used in advanced manufacturing industries such as aerospace, energy, automotive, and others.

It will be the home base for the company's one-step plasma atomization technology that quickly and efficiently turns scrap alloys into ASTM-standard metal powders for use in additive manufacturing, metal injection molding, and other advanced production methods.

The completion of the Houston facility reflects the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility, with the entire building operating as a green manufacturing center. Net-zero carbon energy partners and low-emission gas systems are integrated throughout, ensuring that the Houston plant has the lowest carbon footprint of any metal powder production facility globally. The site is also pursuing green certification goals and is designed to maximize energy efficiency through renewable energy use and advanced recycling initiatives, setting a new standard in sustainable manufacturing.

With increased production capacity and multiple U.S. locations, Continuum can now deliver faster and reduce shipping costs, enhancing supply chain resilience for customers.

The expansion also brings economic benefits to the area, creating new jobs and fostering partnerships with local businesses, further embedding Continuum Powders as an active member of the community.

“Our new Houston facility not only expands our production capabilities but also allows us to scale our mission of decarbonizing the manufacturing industry,” said Rob Higby, CEO of Continuum Powders. “We are committed to providing high-quality, cost-competitive metal powders while minimizing environmental impact. Our technology represents a distinct advantage in the market, offering sustainable solutions that align with the needs of forward-thinking industries.”

The facility features Continuum's proprietary Greyhound M2P (melt-to-powder) plasma atomization process, which provides operational flexibility to meet customer needs with precision and quality. The Greyhound M2P platform streamlines the repurposing of alloyed metal waste-stream products into high-quality metal powder in a single step. By enabling a cradle-to-cradle process, this platform significantly reduces the need for transportation, product handling, primary melting, and extensive long bar processing operations, while also minimizing the environmental impact by reducing the mining of elemental metal resources.

"Houston represents a leap forward in our operational efficiency and sustainability efforts," said Rizk Ghafari, COO of Continuum Powders. "By combining state-of-the-art technology with our commitment to decarbonization, we are not only supporting our customers' needs but also setting a new benchmark for responsible manufacturing in the industry."

Continuum is a portfolio company of Ara Partners, a global private equity firm focused on decarbonizing the industrial economy. Cory Steffek, partner at Ara Partners, said, “The new Houston facility is a key step in our shared mission to transform industrial practices for a more sustainable future.”