Massachusetts manufacturer Desktop Metal, Inc., is acquiring The ExOne Company, a North Huntingdon, Pa. company that specializes in 3D printing technology, in a deal valued at $575 million.
"We are thrilled to bring ExOne into the DM family to create the leading additive manufacturing portfolio for mass production," said Ric Fulop, founder and CEO of Desktop Metal, in a statement. "This transaction is a big step in delivering on our vision of accelerating the adoption of additive manufacturing 2.0.
"We believe our complementary platforms will better serve customers, accelerate adoption of green technologies, and drive increased shareholder value," said John Hartner, CEO of ExOne, in a statement.
Ric Fulop (bottom left), Co-Founder and CEO with the 2015 core leadership team at Desktop Metal, Inc.
The deal, which has been unanimously approved by the ExOne’s board of directors, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to the approval of ExOne shareholders and satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Neota Product Solutions, a custom metal injection molding (MIM) manufacturer located in Loveland, Colorado, has recently partnered with a North American heat treat supplier to develop an exclusive sintering partnership.
Jason Osborne President Neota Product Solutions Source: LinkedIn
Neota provides comprehensive MIM solutions from early-stage prototyping to full scale manufacturing. The manufacturer and Solar Atmospheres of Western PA (SAWPA) developed a sintering thermal profile that densifies complex geometric shapes and also controls shrinkage. This results in a solid and strong metallic part, with near 100% density, while maintaining the tight tolerances that are required in their precision components.
Collaborating with Solar Manufacturing, the vacuum furnace production arm of the Solar family, SAWPA recently acquired a vacuum furnace which is engineered to handle MIM processing. The furnace has a work zone of 36” x 36” x 48” and a load capacity of 3,000 pounds.
Robert (Bob) Hill, FASM President Solar Atmospheres of Western PA
"Solar has been a class-act organization and has been instrumental in the aggressive growth of our company," stated Jason Osborne, president of Neota.
"We have sincerely enjoyed our relationship with the Neota team," added Bob Hill, president of Solar Atmospheres of Western PA stated. "As MIM industry experts, they know what they ultimately want in a finished part. As vacuum thermal processing specialists, we know how to achieve their high temperature processing parameters while not damaging our state-of-the-art vacuum equipment. Investing in our customer’s needs, ultimately results in lasting mutual relationships which become a successful endeavor for both parties."
Vacuum Sintering Furnace from Signature Vacuum Systems, Inc. Source: Signature Vacuum Systems, Inc.
A United States defense contractor will expand their heat treat capabilities with a custom ceramic sintering vacuum furnace. The furnace will be provided with a 36” diameter x 48” high work zone in a graphite hot zone rated for 3362°F (1850°C).
The Model VBS-12 ordered, will increase production capacity and is the fifth furnace from the supplier, Signature Vacuum Systems, Inc., to be manufactured and installed in this contractor’s facility.
“Our strength[…] is solving problems and delivering solutions,” said Greg Kimble, president of Signature Vacuum Systems, Inc. “We have enjoyed the progression of this relationship over the years and we are committed to providing quality products and dependable services.”
(photo source: Defence-Imagery at Pixabay.com)
Unless identified otherwise, all other images from unsplash.com.
Many of you are likely to have heard Harb Nayar, president of TAT Technologies, LLC, expert in all things sintering, explain innovative ways to produce heat treated products. But perhaps you are wondering, how would “atomised prealloyed steel particles,” that is micro-ingots, work within the realm of heat treat?
This Heat TreatTodayBest of the Web feature is pulled from a powder metallurgy (PM) whitepaper in which Harb Nayar describes the PM background, processes, and application in more detail. Read his detailed whitepaper, “The micro-ingot route: A variant of the PM process that could offer new opportunities for the PM industry,” on the web, or download the free PDF.
An excerpt: “This micro-ingot approach, when combined with newer heat treatment technologies, can lead to a redesign of the current macro-ingot products that can potentially help to reduce the weight of the finished product resulting in a longer product life span.”
A leading, global manufacturer of metal injection molding (MIM) products is bolstering its manufacturing capacity with the addition of two large-size horizontal vacuum furnaces for sintering and debinding MIM products and components. The first of the two furnaces will be delivered this year and the second is scheduled for commissioning in March 2021.
The multimillion-dollar order from the global manufacturer was awarded to G-M Enterprises, a Nitrexcompany. The 2-Bar vacuum sintering furnaces will feature a work area of 36” wide x 30” high x 84” long (900 x 762 x 2100 mm), 4400 lb. weight capacity, a maximum operating temperature of 2600°F (1430°C), and uniformity of +/-10°F (+/-5.5°C).
Vacuum Furnace (Source: Nitrex.com)
Michel Frison, VP Global Sales, Nitrex and G-M Enterprises (Source: Nitrex.com)
Integral to the vacuum system configuration is a multistage debinder trap system designed to thermally extract binder from the parts. Sintering and debinding occur in a single cycle using a robust and unique system design that is optimized to handle the maximum load capacity the furnace is designed for. Consequently, there is never a need to operate below the rated load capacity to achieve the required part quality. The high-temperature sintering process also ensures a high-quality finished part surface in terms of density, porosity, mechanical resistance, and aesthetics.
“This latest order comes from a customer we have had a strong cooperation with," said Michel Frison, VP Global Sales, Nitrex and G-M Enterprise, "and which will be part of a series of multiple furnaces provided by G-M Enterprises over the past decades."
Dr. Randall (Rand) German, FAPMI, founder of German Materials Technology, will receive the Kempton H. Roll Powder Metallurgy (PM) Lifetime Achievement Award by the Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF). The award will be presented during WorldPM2020, World Congress on Powder Metallurgy & Particulate Materials, in Montreal, Canada, on June 28.
German has distinguished himself through his research and teaching of the net-shape fabrication of engineering materials via sintering techniques as used in PM, cemented carbides, and ceramics. He has promoted the growth of PM technology during his 50-year career through his involvement in 12 start-up companies, supervising well over a hundred graduate and post-doctoral students, and prolific PM industry publications. German has also been an active member in APMI International, the American Society for Metals, and the American Ceramics Society.
After completing his bachelor’s degree in material science and engineering at San José State University, German began his PM industry career at Battelle Lab, Columbus, Ohio, prior to joining Sandia National Labs (SNL). He obtained his master’s degree in metallurgical engineering from The Ohio State University and his PhD in engineering at the University of California—Davis before taking a director of research position at Mott Corporation, Farmington, Connecticut.
Dr. Randall German Founder, German Materials Technology
German’s nearly 40-year academic career began in 1980 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), where he earned the HuntChair while teaching and conducting research. In 1991, he accepted a position at The Pennsylvania State University where he became the Brush Chair Professor in Materials and the director of the Center for Innovative Sintered Products (CISP) before retiring as an emeritus professor. In 2005, German became the inaugural director for the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS) at Mississippi State University prior to joining San Diego State University in 2008 as associate dean for engineering research until 2013.
German has published 20 books and has 25 patents. He has shared his expertise at powder injection molding tutorials since 1990, and co-chaired over 30 conferences.
Picture two men sitting at a bar table watching a video on a smartphone. As they enthuse about how much they love it, a bystander might be tempted to think they’re just killing time goofing off. “It’s fantastic technology,” the man with the phone, Forecast 3D founder and CEO Corey Weber, says of the Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) process featured in the time-lapse video that shows a Californian facility in the dead of night illuminated only by the passing of a dozen lights flashing over a dozen powder beds through until the morning. As he pulls back his smartphone, he and Guido Degen, GKN Powder Metallurgy’s President of Additive Manufacturing, look pleased with both the technology and themselves.
Corey and Donovan Weber, Forecast 3D, and Guido Degen, GKN
GKN Powder Metallurgy’s acquisition of Forecast 3D appears to be natural synergy. Much of Forecast 3D’s expertise exists in polymer 3D printing, serving the aerospace and medical markets on the West Coast. GKN’s focus is metal parts, the bulk of which is for the automotive market in Central Europe and the Midwest of the United States. When GKN highlighted the contrasting technological expertise that exists in both companies, the figureheads at Forecast were on the same wavelength.
Corey and Donovan Weber, the two brothers who founded Forecast 3D, shown in 2017 at their 3D Manufacturing Facility in Carlsbad, California.
“We knew that the opportunity is much bigger than the size of our pockets,” Weber acknowledges. “We needed resources and our goal was to get someone that shared our vision. We found those with GKN. . . . And, honestly, it’s kind of a relief because now we can really focus on polymers and let them handle metals.”
A company specializing in manufacturing high volume, ferrous-based powder metal components in the automotive market has placed an order with Abbott Furnace Company for an electrically heated continuous belt sintering furnace to be delivered in the 2nd quarter of 2020. The furnace is rated at 2,150° F and also includes the unique Abbott Varicool Cooling System.
Additionally, Abbott is also fulfilling an order for an electrically heated continuous belt soft magnetic alloy processing furnace from a manufacturer in the powder metal industry providing components to the metals and mining market. Their furnace will also ship in the 2nd quarter of 2020. The furnace has a maximum temperature of 1850° F in an air, nitrogen, or steam atmosphere and includes a Delube chamber, oxidation chamber, water-jacketed cooling chamber, and a Thermostack thermal oxidizer. The furnace will be controlled through an Allen Bradley Micrologix PLC. This furnace design will help the P/M industry to grow in the electrification segment of the market.
The Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory, also known as ARL, recently awarded a 3D engineering and manufacturing company a $15 million contract to create a metal 3D printer that it intends to be the world’s largest, fastest, and most precise.
3D Systems and the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) were awarded funding to create this printer and will partner with ARL and the Advanced Manufacturing, Materials, and Processes (AMMP) Program to advance the leadership and innovation. This printer will impact key supply chains associated with long-range munitions, next-generation combat vehicles, helicopters, and air and missile defense capabilities.
“The Army is increasing readiness by strengthening its relationships and interoperability with business partners, like 3D Systems, who advance warfighter requirements at the best value to the taxpayer,” said Dr. Joseph South, ARL’s program manager for Science of Additive Manufacturing for Next Generation Munitions. “Up until now, powder bed laser 3D printers have been too small, too slow, and too imprecise to produce major ground combat subsystems at scale. Our goal is to tackle this issue head-on with the support of allies and partners who aid the Army in executing security cooperation activities in support of common national interests, and who help enable new capabilities for critical national security supply chains.”
According to the U.S. Army Additive Manufacturing Implementation Plan, the Army has been using additive manufacturing (AM) for two decades to refurbish worn parts and create custom tools. Once developed, the Army will leverage its manufacturing experience by placing the new large-scale systems in its depots and labs. Subsequently, 3D Systems and its partners plan to make the new 3D printer technology available to leading aerospace and defense suppliers for development of futuristic Army platforms.
A North American manufacturer of powder metal products recently announced plans to expand its Pennsylvania facility, adding new production capabilities to support additive manufacturing and other technologies.
Photo: Daily American
North American Höganäs High Alloys, founded in 1896 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, will construct a 24,000-square-foot building this location and purchase new machinery to support the global demand for high alloy products, which include stainless steel powders, iron alloy powders, nickel alloy powders, electrolytic iron powders and chips, manganese and silicon powders, and the proprietary GLIDCOP dispersion strengthened copper products.
Linda R. Thomson, president and CEO of the non-profit economic development organization JARI
“Pennsylvania’s powder metals industry is a major contributor to our manufacturing sector,” said Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf. “Höganäs’ decision to expand here is great news for Pennsylvania manufacturing, and will provide at least 25 reliable, family-sustaining jobs for Cambria County workers.”
“JARI is pleased to provide support to Höganäs as the company expands their operations in the City of Johnstown,” said Linda R. Thomson, president and CEO of the non-profit economic development organization JARI. “Höganäs is a world-class, internationally recognized company with state-of-the-art products that is meeting the demands of the new manufacturing age. We appreciate the continuation of the proud Cambria County tradition of leading the way for innovation and we thank the Wolf Administration for their continuous support.”
“This exciting investment, with the greatly appreciated support from the Governor’s Action Team and JARI, will help Höganäs continue to grow in Pennsylvania and provide innovative products for our customers in several quickly developing market areas,” said Dean Howard, President Americas Continent.
