Continuum Powders Taps Cleantech Veteran to Scale Sustainable Metals

HOUSTON, TX – April 30, 2026 – Continuum Powders, a company at the forefront of sustainable materials, has appointed Jon Cozens as its new Chief Executive Officer. The move signals a strategic pivot from technology demonstration to aggressive commercial scaling, leveraging Cozens' extensive background in bringing complex cleantech innovations to market.

Cozens takes the helm from Rob Higby, who guided the company through its critical technology development phase. He is now tasked with leading Continuum into its next chapter, focusing on expanding its patented atomization platform, deepening customer partnerships in high-stakes industries, and capitalizing on significant commercial momentum.

“Continuum is in a rare position,” said Cozens in a statement. “The technology is proven, customers are seeing the value, and the foundation is already in place. The opportunity now is to scale with discipline, expand access to high-quality material, make supply chains more resilient, and do it in a way that makes economic sense for customers. That’s what excited me about joining Continuum.”

A 'Green CEO' for a Circular Mission

Cozens' appointment is a clear indicator of Continuum's commitment to its environmental mission. His career is a highlight reel of leadership roles at private equity-backed firms focused on decarbonization and resource recovery. Prior to joining Continuum, he was CEO of Aries Clean Technologies, a company specializing in waste-to-energy systems. There, he led efforts to commercialize gasification technology, including a groundbreaking project proving the effective destruction of harmful PFAS chemicals in wastewater biosolids.

His experience also includes leadership roles at Mura Technology, a leader in advanced plastics recycling, and Fulcrum BioEnergy, where he was instrumental in developing first-of-their-kind waste-to-fuel projects. This deep expertise in transforming waste streams into valuable resources aligns perfectly with Continuum's core business.

Continuum’s patented Greyhound M2P (Melt-to-Powder) platform is a revolutionary single-step process that converts certified metal scrap directly into high-performance, ASTM-grade metal powder. By using a DC plasma heat source in a cold hearth chamber, the system bypasses the multiple, energy-intensive remelting stages of traditional powder production. A third-party Life Cycle Assessment confirmed the dramatic impact of this approach, demonstrating that Continuum's process for producing nickel powder can reduce carbon emissions by up to 99.7% compared to methods using virgin ore.

By focusing exclusively on 100% reclaimed feedstock from aerospace, energy, and industrial partners, the company is creating a true circular economy for high-value metals like titanium (Ti64) and nickel superalloys (Ni718).

From Lab to Industrial Scale

With the technology validated, the primary challenge—and opportunity—for Continuum is scale. This is where Cozens' track record becomes paramount. Throughout his career, he has helped build companies that reached billion-dollar valuations and has been directly involved in raising over $500 million in private equity and more than $1 billion in project financing. His experience is in bridging the gap between a brilliant invention and a profitable, large-scale industrial operation.

This strategy is strongly supported by Continuum’s primary investor, Ara Partners, a private equity firm exclusively focused on industrial decarbonization. In 2022, Ara Partners led a $36 million funding round to help Continuum expand its production capabilities. The firm’s investment thesis centers on scaling commercially proven technologies that can deliver sustainable solutions at or below the cost of conventional alternatives.

“Continuum has already demonstrated strong market demand for its solutions,” said Cory Steffek, Partner at Ara Partners. “With a robust backlog, a growing pipeline, and significant technological advancements, the company is well-positioned for its next phase of growth. Jon brings the experience needed to scale businesses at this stage, and we’re excited to support him and the team as they continue to build momentum.”

The market timing is advantageous. The global market for additive manufacturing powders is projected to more than triple in the next five years, driven by demand from the aerospace, energy, and medical sectors for lightweight, high-performance components.

Fortifying Critical Supply Chains

Beyond its environmental benefits, Continuum's business model addresses a growing geopolitical and economic imperative: supply chain resilience. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent global disruptions exposed the fragility of long, complex supply chains for critical materials. For industries like aerospace and defense, securing a stable, domestic supply of high-performance metals is a matter of national security.

Continuum's process of upcycling domestic scrap metal provides a robust alternative to a reliance on imported virgin materials. By creating high-quality powder from certified scrap—such as used turbine blades from military aircraft—the company offers a secure, predictable, and often more cost-effective source of material. This onshoring of critical material production is a key value proposition for its customers.

The company has already proven its value in this arena, having successfully partnered with industrial giants like Siemens Energy to convert aerospace scrap into powder for additive manufacturing, demonstrating a viable closed-loop system. With its SAE AS9100 compliance, Continuum meets the stringent quality and safety standards required by the aerospace industry, further solidifying its role as a trusted partner.

Under Cozens' leadership, the focus will be on scaling what works—expanding production capacity to meet a growing backlog and deepening the partnerships that are essential for a circular economy. By combining a proven, nearly carbon-free technology with a seasoned leader in commercial execution, Continuum Powders is positioned not just to grow, but to fundamentally reshape how critical industries source and use high-performance materials.