Melbourne-based start-up Titomic has scored an important win for Australia’s high tech manufacturing sector, inking a deal to sell two of its metal 3D printing machines to a defence contractor for $25.5 million.

The deal will also see the buyer of the machines, local R&D and commercialisation business Composite Technology, provide Titomic with certification that the defence parts made with the machines are of a standard for use by NATO.