DENVER, March 4, 2026, 04:19 (MST)
- Nuburu has struck a binding joint venture with Maddox Defense, aiming to develop a containerized, mobile 3D-printing platform for drones and other defense components.
- Nuburu, according to a filing, is looking to put as much as $4 million into Phase I development, with plans to set up a commercialization company later on in a 60/40 split.
- Nuburu shares hovered at about $0.28 ahead of the U.S. market open
Nuburu, Inc. (BURU) announced March 2 it’s teaming up with Maddox Defense Incorporated in a binding joint venture, targeting the development and rollout of a modular, containerized mobile 3D printing platform for drone parts and other defense applications. The additive manufacturing system, Nuburu said, links U.S. product work with European commercialization, backed by Tekne S.p.A. Alessandro Zamboni, Tekne’s chairman and co-CEO, described the move as “a deliberate expansion … into deployable industrial capability.” Nuburu Defense CEO Dario Barisoni highlighted “disciplined development, validation, and technical certification,” while Jason Maddox, Maddox’s CEO, called out the project’s “adaptable, scalable production capabilities.” Business Wire
The move comes as militaries look to bulk up drone fleets and speed up repairs despite tighter shipping lines and shrinking parts inventories. With a containerized production unit, there’s potential to deploy and assemble it fast, using digital files to churn out parts on-site—no need to wait on far-off suppliers.
For Nuburu, the joint venture lands with a sense of urgency. The company has been pushing to expand from its laser business into defense and security, and investors want to see whether that plan actually produces contracts.
According to a Feb. 27 securities filing, Nuburu has committed up to $4 million for Phase I development at Maddox, and secured a 10% governance stake to oversee progress on building the initial operating container via a joint steering committee. Should the system clear both factory and site acceptance testing, Nuburu and Maddox plan to set up a new business split 60/40—Nuburu holding the majority—to take the product to market. All distributable profits would go to Nuburu first, covering its reimbursable contributions. The filing describes the venture as the lead contractor for qualifying U.S. and EU/NATO bids, with Maddox taking charge on U.S. matters and Nuburu leading efforts in Europe and NATO regions. SEC
Nuburu shares traded roughly 3 cents higher at $0.2811 in pre-market hours Wednesday, giving the company a market cap of about $16 million.
Nuburu went ahead with a 1-for-4.99 reverse stock split on Feb. 27, shrinking its share count in a bid to prop up the price. Earlier, NYSE American had hit pause on trading back on Feb. 13 after the shares slipped under the exchange’s $0.10 minimum. The company cautioned: another slide could prompt a fresh halt and possibly delisting. SEC
The joint venture is chasing procurement contracts where quick turnaround, strict paperwork, and compliance rival price in importance—especially on projects for drones and essential components. Nuburu faces an uphill battle for both budget and visibility, going head-to-head with bigger suppliers already entrenched in defense manufacturing operations.
The process kicks off in development, but it’s really testing, certification, and landing contracts that decide the pace. Export rules add another wrinkle, potentially limiting cross-border shipments. Nuburu, for its part, has flagged the risk: if its stock dips under $0.10, there’s a chance the exchange could suspend trading and move to delist. There’s also a rule that blocks Nuburu from attempting another reverse split in the near term. SEC
