Houston’s Emerging Additive Hub: Why Location Matters
When you think of additive manufacturing, you might picture California or Germany. But today, the city of Houston is quietly becoming one of the most strategic locations for metal AM innovation—anchored by its dual strength in energy and aerospace, and supported by a growing ecosystem of advanced manufacturing companies.
A Strategic Cross‑Sector Advantage
Energy Leadership
Houston remains the energy capital of the United States, and that creates a rich foundation for metal additive manufacturing. The region’s manufacturing sector—particularly oilfield services and equipment fabrication—supports over 182,000 skilled workers in Harris County alone, among 5,180 manufacturing firms. Insight Global
For example, Baker Hughes’ Houston‑based additive manufacturing team has produced over 25,000 additive parts and qualified more than 450 individual part numbers, indicating the maturity of AM in the local oil & gas market. Baker Hughes
This means additive workflows in Houston can lean on decades of tooling, metal fabrication expertise, and oil‑and‑gas qualification standards—making the city a natural fit for production-grade AM.
Aerospace & Advanced Manufacturing Momentum
On the aerospace side, Houston’s impact is also tangible. The region supports more than 500 aerospace, aviation, and space‑related firms. Strategic Public Affairs The presence of NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, with over 10,000 employees and a long history of space missions using additive‑derived technologies, reinforces the point. ABC13 Houston
Additive manufacturing for high‑temperature alloys, lightweight structures, and complex geometries aligns naturally with aerospace demands. The ecosystem offers access to suppliers qualified to the highest standards, universities advancing new materials, and testing infrastructure especially suited for AM.
Together, these two strengths mean a company operating in Houston—like Howco Additive—is uniquely positioned to serve both oil & gas and aerospace specialties from one location.
Who’s Making It Happen in Houston
Baker Hughes – Their Houston site serves as a production‑scale AM hub, integrating automation and build file control for high‑value parts.
voestalpine Additive Manufacturing Center (Houston, TX) – Located on Cutten Road, the facility supports powder development, printing, and post‑processing for aerospace and oil & gas alloys.
Knust‑Godwin LLC – Based in Katy (near Houston), their precision manufacturing facility includes an AM division and partnerships in metal printing for downhole components.
i‑SOLIDS – Houston‑based engineering and metal AM service provider, delivering design and print capabilities to local industries.
Continuum Powders – Their Houston facility and partnerships support aerospace‑grade powder supply, enabling AM development in the region.
Howco Additive – Our 7,500 sq ft Houston facility is co‑located with a large material distribution/manufacturing campus, giving us direct access to downstream machining and domestic supply chains.
This grouping acts as a rich ecosystem of design, materials, printing, post‑processing, and delivery—creating the kind of cluster that drives innovation, scale, and competitive advantage.
Howco Additive’s Strategic Position in Houston
At Howco Additive, our Houston facility is built for production—not just prototypes. With a 7,500 sq ft dedicated AM space embedded in a broader machining and materials campus, we deliver parts using alloys like Inconel 718, Titanium, and C103 Niobium at scale.
Our location gives us access to:
Industrial talent pools familiar with rugged, high‑performance environments
Regional post‑processing and machining networks for faster turnarounds
Domestic supply chain logistics that reduce lead times and import risks
Direct proximity to energy and aerospace customers with demanding specs
Why Location Matters for Your Parts
Shorter supply chains: Having powder suppliers, AM print centers, post‑process partners, and industry customers all within the region means faster turnaround and fewer logistics bottlenecks.
Close to industry demand: Being in the midst of oil & gas and aerospace means we understand the application needs and industry standards.
Access to talent and partners: Houston’s cluster means ready access to skilled machinists, metallurgists, AM engineers, and established downstream operations.
Innovation synergy: Having companies like Baker Hughes, voestalpine, and Continuum Powders in the ecosystem means continuous improvement, shared tooling knowledge, and real‑world feedback loops.
Economic signals: The upcoming Additive Manufacturing for Oil & Gas Summit in Houston (Oct 15‑16, 2025) underscores the city’s growing importance in the AM space. Metal Additive Manufacturing
Final Thought
Houston isn’t just the “Energy Capital of the World” anymore—it’s becoming a center of advanced manufacturing, additive innovation, and high‑performance metal parts. At Howco Additive, we’re proud to be part of this ecosystem and to leverage our base in Houston to deliver metal AM solutions for both energy and aerospace markets. Whether you’re looking for downhole tools, turbine hardware, or space‑bound components—this hub and our team are ready.