• Scaling AM Suppressor Production: Oerlikon AM & ATLIX Rise to the Challenge Share this Article End-of-barrel suppressors, oftentimes referred to as silencers, function by capturing and redirecting high-pressure propellant gases through carefully engineered internal structures and channels. • By disrupting the gas flow before it exits the muzzle, these devices significantly reduce acoustic signature and muzzle flash generated when the firearm is discharged. • Once considered a niche accessory, firearm suppressors have entered a period of rapid expansion, particularly in the United States market. • According to theNational Shooting Sports Foundation(NSSF), approximately 2.2 million suppressors were sold and licensed between May 2021 and July 2024. • To put that figure into perspective, prior to May 2021 an estimated 2.6 million suppressors had been registered in U.S. • since the enactment of the National Firearms Act of 1934.
Article Summaries:
- Oerlikon AM, in partnership with ATLIX, has accelerated the production of additively manufactured firearm suppressors amid a rapidly expanding U.S. market. Between May 2021 and July 2024, suppressor sales and licenses reached 2.2 million, nearly doubling ownership in three years. Leveraging ATLIX’s TruPrint laser powder‑bed fusion platform, Oerlikon produced over 25,000 suppressors in June 2025 using proprietary MetcoAdd nickel powder, a milestone that aligns with projections of 30 % AM penetration by 2032. The company has since doubled its TruPrint printer fleet, becoming North America’s largest contract manufacturer for suppressors, and emphasizes precision, repeatability, and industrial‑grade reliability to meet growing defense and civilian demand.
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