Top 10 Companies in the Nickel Free Stainless Steel Powder Industry (2026): Market Leaders Shaping Advanced Manufacturing

In Business Insights
February 12, 2026


The Global Nickel Free Stainless Steel Powder Market was valued at USD 134 Million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 185 Million by 2034, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.9% during the forecast period (2024–2030). This growth is being driven by rising demand for hypoallergenic materials in the medical and consumer electronics sectors, the adoption of advanced powder-based manufacturing techniques, and the strategic shift towards materials with more stable cost structures.

As industries pivot towards biocompatible and cost-effective material solutions, the focus intensifies on the key producers who are driving material innovation, supply chain reliability, and specialized powder development. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Nickel Free Stainless Steel Powder Industry—a mix of global metallurgy giants, specialized powder producers, and additive manufacturing specialists enabling the next generation of industrial components.


🔟 1. GKN Powder Metallurgy (Hoeganaes Corporation)

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom (Hoeganaes operations: Cinnaminson, New Jersey, USA)
Key Offering: AncorNickel-Free Stainless Steel Powders (Ferritic & Martensitic Grades)

GKN Powder Metallurgy, through its Hoeganaes division, is a global leader in metal powder production. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of nickel-free stainless steel powders specifically engineered for powder metallurgy (PM) and metal injection molding (MIM) applications, providing excellent compressibility and corrosion resistance.

Innovation and Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Development of high-density ferritic powders for automotive and industrial components

  • Investment in advanced atomization technologies for superior powder consistency

  • Commitment to sustainable manufacturing and circular economy principles

Download FREE Sample Report: Nickel Free Stainless Steel Powder Market – View in Detailed Research Report


9️⃣ 2. Höganäs AB

Headquarters: Höganäs, Sweden
Key Offering: Astaloy Cr-based Nickel-Free Stainless Steel Powders

Höganäs AB is one of the world’s oldest and largest producers of metal powders. The company’s nickel-free stainless steel powders are renowned for their high purity, consistent particle size distribution, and suitability for demanding applications in the medical and automotive industries.

Innovation and Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Pioneering water and gas atomization processes for niche alloy powders

  • Strong R&D focus on powder characteristics for additive manufacturing


8️⃣ 3. Sandvik AB

Headquarters: Sandviken, Sweden
Key Offering: Osprey® Nickel-Free Stainless Steel Powders (e.g., Sandvik 3DPrint 13C) for AM

Sandvik’s Osprey brand is a benchmark for high-performance metal powders used in additive manufacturing. Its nickel-free grades are specifically developed for powder bed fusion processes, offering excellent flowability, low oxygen content, and reliable mechanical properties for critical components.

Innovation and Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Leading producer of gas-atomized spherical powders for 3D printing

  • Focus on developing alloys for patient-specific medical implants


7️⃣ 4. Carpenter Technology Corporation

Headquarters: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Key Offering: Custom 630 (17-4PH) and other nickel-free precipitation-hardening stainless steel powders

Carpenter Technology is a specialty alloys leader with a strong focus on high-performance powders. While some of its most famous grades contain nickel, it also produces and supplies high-strength, corrosion-resistant nickel-free alternatives like Custom 630, which is widely used in aerospace and medical applications.

Innovation and Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Expertise in vacuum induction melting and gas atomization (VIGA)

  • Provision of fully characterized powder lots with certified material data

Download FREE Sample Report: Nickel Free Stainless Steel Powder Market – View in Detailed Research Report


6️⃣ 5. Rio Tinto Metal Powders

Headquarters: Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, Canada
Key Offering: Stainless steel powders, including nickel-free ferritic grades

Rio Tinto Metal Powders is a major global supplier of ferrous powders. The company produces a range of stainless steel powders, leveraging its large-scale production capabilities to serve high-volume powder metallurgy markets, particularly in the automotive sector, with cost-effective nickel-free solutions.

Innovation and Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Large-scale water atomization production ensuring supply stability

  • Focus on reducing the carbon footprint of powder production


5️⃣ 6. JFE Steel Corporation

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Nickel-free stainless steel powders for MIM and PM

JFE Steel Corporation, a leading Japanese steelmaker, has a dedicated advanced materials division that produces high-quality metal powders. The company’s nickel-free stainless steel powders are tailored for the precision components market in Asia, particularly for electronics and automotive applications.

Innovation and Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Development of powders with enhanced sintering properties

  • Strong presence in the Asian additive manufacturing ecosystem


4️⃣ 7. Pometon S.p.A.

Headquarters: Maerne di Martellago, Italy
Key Offering: Ferritic stainless steel powders (e.g., 430L)

Pometon is a key European producer of metal powders with a long history in ferrous and non-ferrous powder metallurgy. The company supplies nickel-free ferritic stainless steel powders that are valued for their magnetic properties and resistance to stress corrosion cracking.

Innovation and Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Specialization in powders for the European automotive and appliance industries

  • Investment in quality control systems for high-purity powder production


3️⃣ 8. CNPC POWDER

Headquarters: Jiaozuo, Henan, China
Key Offering: Cost-competitive nickel-free stainless steel powders

CNPC POWDER is one of China’s major metal powder manufacturers. The company produces a wide array of powders, including nickel-free stainless steel grades that cater to the domestic market’s growing demand for affordable materials in consumer goods and industrial parts.

Innovation and Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Focus on scaling production to meet domestic demand

  • Increasing R&D into powders suitable for advanced manufacturing


2️⃣ 9. Hangzhou Yitong New Materials Co., Ltd. (HLPOWDER)

Headquarters: Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Key Offering: Nickel-free stainless steel powders for MIM and AM

HLPOWDER is a specialized Chinese manufacturer focusing on high-performance metal powders for additive manufacturing and metal injection molding. The company has developed nickel-free stainless steel powders that meet the stringent requirements of international customers in the medical and electronics sectors.

Innovation and Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Specialization in fine, spherical powders for 3D printing

  • Building a reputation for quality in the global AM powder supply chain


1️⃣ 10. Praxair Surface Technologies (Now part of Linde)

Headquarters: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Key Offering: Specialty metal powders for thermal spray and additive manufacturing

Praxair Surface Technologies, now operating under Linde, is a leader in advanced materials for surface enhancement and manufacturing. The company supplies high-quality nickel-free stainless steel powders used primarily in thermal spray coatings for corrosion protection and in additive manufacturing for specific component requirements.

Innovation and Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Expertise in manufacturing powders for extreme environment applications

  • Global supply chain supporting aerospace and energy sectors

Get Full Report Here: Nickel Free Stainless Steel Powder Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🌍 Outlook: The Future of Nickel Free Stainless Steel Powder Is High-Performance and Hypoallergenic

The nickel free stainless steel powder market is undergoing a significant transformation. While traditional stainless steels still dominate in volume, the industry is investing heavily in advanced alloy development, specialized atomization technologies, and powder optimization for next-generation manufacturing processes.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Rapid expansion of Metal Injection Molding (MIM) and Additive Manufacturing (AM) applications

  • Regulatory and consumer push for nickel-free materials in medical devices and wearables

  • Increasing demand for materials that offer insulation from nickel price volatility

  • Technical advancements producing nickel-free grades with performance rivaling traditional alloys

Get Full Report Here: Nickel Free Stainless Steel Powder Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not only supplying critical materials—they’re enabling the hypoallergenic and cost-stable future of advanced manufacturing.