Economical & Ultra-Fast Turnaround High Performance Manufacturing.
Industrial production is stuck in the past. Ascend's Large Area Projection Sintering (LAPS) platform unlocks unmatched material access, dramatically faster production speeds, and radically lower input costs.
Built to Serve the Front Lines of Innovation
Defense & Aerospace
Certifiable, Cradle-to-Grave traceability, on-shore production
Built for austere environments from deserts to space
SAM.GOV Certified, CAGE Registered, Cornerstone OTA Member
Industrial Equipment
Most economical option for up to 2 million parts
Reduce tooling cost and
lead time by 95%
Upgrade function without
sacrificing margin
Consumer Products
Material storytelling
(sustainability + performance)
Low-to-mid volume agility,
ideal for launch cycles
Validation in motion:
UL & ASTM 1,000-hour stress/weatherability testing
Large Area Projection Sintering (LAPS)
The difference between drawing lines and projecting images is the difference between incremental progress and true transformation. Ascend is rewriting the rules of additive manufacturing by achieving speeds and material capabilities that enable both thermosets and thermoplastics to be digitally manufactured at scale. Leveraging domestically sourced materials that are exempt from tariffs, Ascend delivers polymers that range from ultra low cost to high performance space-ready options.
“Ascend’s Large Area Projection Sintering (LAPS) technology introduces a paradigm shift in polymer manufacturing by enabling unprecedented scalability, efficiency, and material versatility.”
- Dr. Justin Nussbaum, Founder and CEO
Make More. Spend Less.
Waste Nothing
Deliver high-performance parts faster, with drastically lower material costs - upcycling materials other manufacturers throw away.
Transforming Waste into Opportunity
Ascend’s platform is uniquely capable of printing with phenolics, epoxies, urethanes, polyesters, fluoropolymers, silicones, composites, and even repurposed powder coating waste — in addition to all traditional 3D printing polymers. Ascend is not simply expanding additive manufacturing; it is opening new product categories and establishing a first mover advantage that will shape the future of production.
Up to 1,000x Faster Than Traditional Powder Bed Fusion
LAPS can melt entire 2D areas in one shot, like taking a picture, not drawing a line. That core breakthrough increases throughput by orders of magnitude, slashing lead times from months to days.
95%+ Material Cost Savings
Ascend delivers high-performance parts for just $10–25/kg, using a variety of industrial feedstocks. For comparison, materials with similar properties (PEEK, PEK, etc) range from $500–800/kg.
Born Certified Parts
In-situ feedback systems allow for real-time monitoring, quality control and quality assurance. A digital twin of the as-printed geometry is created for every part and compared against the input solid model. This verifies that every part is within engineering specifications instantly without any CT scanning or post processing analysis. By eliminating guesswork, Ascend can meet the precision standards of aerospace, defense, and industrial buyers.
Backed by Proven Innovators
Ascend has received over $1.1M in non-dilutive funding and support from programs like Innovation Crossroads (Oak Ridge National Laboratory), LaunchTN, Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense, potential impact across multiple industries has been validated and materially advanced American manufacturing.
6 Patents Issued,
with 1 pending
Ascend’s proprietary LAPS process is protected by a robust and growing IP portfolio, covering projection 3D printing, processability of amorphous powders (thermosets), materials, and integrated QA/QC systems. This forms the backbone of our platform defensibility and licensing potential.
Partners & Supporters
About Ascend Manufacturing
Founded in 2018, Ascend was born out of industrial need. By interviewing 117 industrial customers, Ascend identified the bottlenecks and invented a solution to their needs. As a research initiative at the University of South Florida quickly evolved into a patented technology with support from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Innovation Crossroads program. Our Large Area Projection Sintering (LAPS) process uses full-surface light projection to build faster, smarter, and with radically expanded material options, including industrial waste.
With six patents issued and strategic pilots underway with large partners in target markets, Ascend is now scaling operations and closing a $1M raise to redefine the future of American manufacturing.
Invest in Ascend
Meet the Leadership
Dr. Justin Nussbaum
Founder & CEO
Spencer Abbott
Director of R&D
Dr. Andrew Palowitch
Board of Directors
Dr. Eric Dobson
Board of Directors
Chris McAdoo
Strategic Advisor
