Continuum Powders
Continuum Powders operates North America's largest sustainable metal powder production facility—a 35,000+ square-foot manufacturing hub in Houston, Texas. The company holds the distinction of achieving a 99.7% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, making it one of the world's lowest-emission powder...
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Continuum Powders operates North America's largest sustainable metal powder production facility—a 35,000+ square-foot manufacturing hub in Houston, Texas. The company holds the distinction of achieving a 99.7% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, making it one of the world's lowest-emission powder production sites.
Continuum manufactures high-quality metal powders for additive manufacturing and 3D printing applications. Their specialty lies in working with high-temperature alloys, primarily:
- •Inconel 625
- •Inconel 718
- •Other nickel-based superalloys
At the core of Continuum's operation sits their proprietary Greyhound M2P (Melt-to-Powder) technology, a single-step plasma atomization system that transforms alloyed metal waste-stream products into production-grade powder. Here's how the process works:
1. Input: 50-60 kg batches of pre-alloyed scrap metal loaded into the system 2. Melting: Plasma torch melts the material while an inductive stir coil accelerates the process and ensures uniform blending 3. Atomization: Molten stream meets argon gas, atomizing into full-spectrum powder (multiple size distributions) 4. Capture: Wet scrubber system captures any solids remaining after atomization 5. Sorting: Full-spectrum powder moves to hoppers for separation into three product portions plus recycling batch
Continuum sources scrap metal from suppliers located within 30 miles of the Houston headquarters. This eliminates dependency on mining operations and dramatically reduces transportation-related emissions. The company rigorously tests all incoming materials—checking chemistry reports before purchase and conducting additional verification upon delivery.
Every batch receives:
- •Weight documentation
- •Material ID assignment
- •Barcode-tracked labels
- •Chemistry test verification
- •Real-time tracking via barcode scanners
This level of control ensures "output chemistry is what we put in the front end," according to Director of Operations Dan Whitlock. Two operators manage each Greyhound system using joystick controls to position the plasma torch and maintain precise process parameters—critical because each alloy has different viscosity when molten.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Facility Size | 35,000+ sq ft |
| Headquarters Location | Houston, Texas |
| R&D Lab | Full material testing for density, flow, morphology |
| Expansion Capacity | Room for 4 additional foundry bays |
| Data Monitoring | Real-time systems accessible globally from Houston |
| Renewable Energy | Integrated throughout operations |
Global Operations: - Houston, Texas: Global headquarters and Center for Sustainable Materials - Cloverdale, California: US Technology Center - Singapore: Asia-Pacific Production & Sales Center
Leadership: - Rob Higby: CEO (took position summer 2024 after company rebranding) - Rizk Ghafari: Chief Operating Director
The Mission: "Producing the highest quality, most sustainable metal powder in the world."
Continuum Powders traces its roots through three distinct phases:
1. Phase One: Operated as Molyworks; initial development of the Greyhound M2P system 2. Phase Two: 2018 opening of Singapore office, expanding international reach 3. Phase Three: Current era of commercialization and strategic investments, marked by the Houston facility opening in December 2024
Continuum operates as a portfolio company of Ara Partners, a global private equity and infrastructure investment firm focused on decarbonizing the industrial economy. This investment reflects the company's broader commitment to transforming manufacturing practices toward sustainability.
The facility includes an Innovation Station where the company uses HoloLens units for immersive remote communication with teams across its worldwide locations. This technology enables real-time collaboration and problem-solving across continents.
The latest iteration features a compact foundry design purpose-built for: - Point-of-need deployment - Rapid scaling capabilities - Integration into metal-based advanced manufacturing processes - Supply chain simplification - Enhanced operational efficiency
"A manufacturing operation without good data is not good." — Dan Whitlock, Director of Operations
CEO Rob Higby refers to Houston as the "Silicone Valley of sustainability." The location offers: - Proximity to scrap metal suppliers (30 miles away) - Access to top talent and skilled workforce - Collaboration opportunities with industry leaders - Green certification pursuit goals - Local business partnerships and economic development benefits
The Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office recognized Continuum's arrival as strategically important, noting that operations will support advanced manufacturing, open career pathways, and impact the state economy.