Metal powder leader, GKN Powder Metallurgy has entered into a partnership with EOS in an effort to become a leading business-to-business company in industrial 3D printing.
The two technology leaders have a deal primarily aimed at the automotive market, integrating both companies’ knowledge in their respective markets.
GKN Powder Metallurgy brings expertise in the transfer of innovative technology from laboratory level to series production, capabilities in advanced material and design, as well as experience in developing and producing advanced metal powder materials. With this new partnership, GKN and EOS have committed to maximise the potential of 3D metal printing.
“Metal AM has huge potential to shape the future of industrial manufacturing and its products, and elevating this to a new level,” said Dr Peter Oberparleiter, CEO GKN Powder Metallurgy. “EOS and GKN will take on this challenge together. We want to ensure that more and more companies recognise and use the potential of this innovative technology. At the same time, we want to considerably expand the areas in application with new materials by testing and ultimately using them in series production.”
As a pioneer and innovator in additive manufacturing, EOS offers systems, materials and process parameters for intelligently harmonised 3D printing. By combining its knowledge with GKN, who also boast a healthy portfolio and global footprint, the companies are looking to fully exploit the revolutionary possibilities and potential offered by metal additive manufacturing. This is fully embedded in GKN’s digital factory approach and the next big step towards the future of series metal AM production for automotive applications.
Dr Hans J. Langer, Founder and CEO of EOS, believes his company’s partnership with GKN is of significant importance to metal additive manufacturing and its future implementation in industries, such as the automotive market.
“The collaboration between GKN and EOS is another important step towards integrating industrial 3D printing into existing and future production lines and to leverage the benefits of AM technology for series production,” said Langer. “With GKN we have the right partner who offers a high degree of experience with its global presence and its high-performance production for the automotive industry.”
GKN Powder Metallurgy comprises GKN Sinter Metals, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of precision automotive components. As additive manufacturing continues to become an important technique within the automotive industry, GKN has sought out the assistance of a major play already heavily involved in the field. GKN and EOS first collaborated in January 2016, holding a joint ‘AM Experience Day’ in GKN’s Innovation Centre in Radevormwald, Germany. Such was the interest in this event, the partners are planning to run eight additional ‘AM Experience Days’ later in the year.