Industry Update

NSSF praises the Trump administration's new rules transferring firearm suppressor export licensing from the State Department to the Commerce Department. Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President & General Counsel, stated the reforms will enable American suppressor manufacturers to compete more effectively in overseas markets without burdensome regulatory requirements.

Solar Atmospheres' new 28,000-square-foot facility in Berlin, Connecticut is progressing on schedule for a fourth-quarter 2026 opening. Vacuum furnaces have been installed and office areas are nearing completion at the Spruce Brook Industrial Park location, which will expand the company's vacuum heat treating capabilities throughout the Northeast.

Solar Atmospheres has installed an 11,000-gallon stainless steel recirculating water quench tank for its state-of-the-art titanium drop bottom furnace, scheduled for full commissioning by September 2026. The furnace will solution treat titanium bars, forgings, and large components for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications.

Brandon Wilson, Sales and Service Engineer at Edge Technologies, has expanded his territory to include Michigan while continuing to serve Eastern Canada. Wilson succeeds Regional Sales Manager Carl Miller and brings over 20 years of experience in machining and manufacturing.

The NSSF-adjusted NICS figure for July 2026 reached 1,061,883, an 8.5 percent increase from July 2025's 978,731. NFA checks surged 108.8 percent to 130,013, with Texas, Florida, and Virginia leading in NFA activity. Texas topped adjusted NICS checks among all states.

PİKSAN CNC, a Turkish manufacturer of high-precision CNC machining and carbide cutting tools, is expanding across Europe and seeking distribution partners for its TOOLEX® brand. The company offers precision turning and milling services with ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949 certifications, plus a portfolio of solid carbide cutting tools ranging from 0.2 mm to 200 mm diameters.

Edge Technologies Regional Sales Manager Greg Haering's territory has expanded to include Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, in addition to his existing northeastern states. Haering, who joined Edge Technologies in 2023, brings 15 years of machining and manufacturing industry experience.

Payroc, an official NSSF Affinity Partner, offers complimentary payment-processing reviews to NSSF members. The reviews assess existing processing programs, costs, and acceptance methods to identify cost-saving opportunities and efficiency improvements. Interested members can contact Payroc NSSF representative Laura Morgan to schedule a consultation.

Solar Atmospheres of San Diego announced the appointment of Karla Clement as Quality Manager. President Derek Dennis praised her extensive quality management background and dedication to excellence. Clement will oversee quality management systems and ensure compliance with industry standards.

The Briefing FFL Compliance Summit, taking place September 23–25, 2026 at the W Hotel Dallas, has confirmed ATF Director Rob Cekada, Chief Counsel Robert Leider, and other top federal officials as speakers. The inaugural conference addresses 34 pending ATF rule changes affecting the country's 70,000-plus active FFLs, with early bird registration at $399 through July 31.

Continuum Powders announced the appointment of Winthrop Sheldon as Chief Revenue Officer to lead global commercial strategy and revenue growth. Sheldon brings over two decades of experience in additive manufacturing, aerospace, and advanced technologies, previously holding leadership roles at SLM Solutions, Velo3D, and Beehive Industries.

The NSSF-adjusted NICS figure for June 2026 reached 1,123,006, an 11.7 percent increase compared to June 2025's 1,004,986. The National Shooting Sports Foundation introduced monthly NFA checks tracking, with Texas, Virginia, and Florida leading in NFA checks during the month.

The Briefing is a three-day FFL Compliance Summit in Dallas featuring ATF leadership including Director Rob Cekada and Chief Counsel Robert Leider, alongside FBI officials and industry experts. The event covers regulatory changes, Form 4473 revisions, and NFA requirements with direct Q&A access to government speakers.

Solar Atmospheres announced the addition of Ava Conolly to its Research & Development team as a Metallurgical / R&D Engineer. Conolly earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh University with a concentration in materials science and metallurgy.

Reinforce3D and Impac Systems Engineering have partnered to accelerate industrial adoption of the Continuous Fiber Injection Process (CFIP) across North America. The collaboration enables manufacturers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico to integrate continuous fiber reinforcement into production without redesigning parts, enhancing strength-to-weight ratios while maintaining design freedom.

The NSSF-adjusted NICS figure for May 2026 reached 1,105,758, a 3.2 percent increase from May 2025's 1,071,685. The National Shooting Sports Foundation reported new monthly NFA checks data, with Texas, Virginia, and Florida leading in NFA checks, while the May 2026 NFA figure of 146,551 increased 100.4 percent year-over-year.

Solar Atmospheres' Eastern PA facility commissioned a new 12-foot horizontal vacuum furnace designed for titanium Hydriding and Dehydriding (HDH) processing and heat treating. The furnace features a 54" x 54" x 144" working zone, 15,000-pound load capacity, and dual mechanical pumping systems to support growing customer demands.

Payroc, an official NSSF Affinity Partner, offers a cash-discount program enabling firearm retailers to pass 100% of credit and debit card processing costs to customers. The compliant program provides two price options at checkout and is supported across all 50 states.

Kowalski Heat Treating (KHT) has advanced its heat treating capabilities for knife blade and firearm component manufacturers through updated stacking methods, optimized thermal processing, and refined quench controls to improve consistency and reduce costly rework.

Paul Baker, CFO and co-owner of Productiv, published "Output Over Hours," a data-driven guide revealing how hourly temp staffing models cost 50-100% more than invoiced rates. The book draws on 1,000+ kitting projects and promotes Productiv's Embedded Operations model, which has achieved 23% cost reduction and 41% throughput increase across nine active sites.