Rising Star
Headquarters: Worcester and Leominster
Total locations: Three
Industry subsector: Metal powder and advanced materials manufacturing
Founded: 2024
Employees: 16
Top executives: Brad Richards, co-founder and CEO; Joe Heelan, co-founder, chief operating officer, and chief technology officer
Primary product: Additive manufacturing powder feedstock
Founded two years ago, Powders on Demand produces engineered metal powders used in additive manufacturing and repair applications, supplying materials to aerospace, defense, and industrial customers.
The company focuses on designing powders at the microstructural level, tailoring materials to meet specific performance requirements and reduce the time customers spend testing and qualifying them for use.
In 2025, Powders on Demand received a $200,000 state grant to support development of a new manufacturing line for ultra-high-temperature powders. The project includes plans for a plasma arc melting furnace to produce high-purity metal ingots from materials such as tungsten, tantalum, and titanium.
The company has shipped 40,000 pounds of powder while expanding operations across three Central Massachusetts locations.
Its materials are often used in repair applications, where small amounts of powder can extend the life of larger components, reducing the need for replacement.
Brad Kane is editor of the Worcester Business Journal.
