Forecast GKN
GKN Powder Metallurgy has announced the acquisition of polymer additive manufacturing service provider Forecast 3D.
The company says this move has been made to further its global market leadership ambitions and gives GKN Powder Metallurgy a presence in more geographical and technological markets.
GKN Powder Metallurgy, which comprises the GKN Additive division, currently serves Europe, China and the Midwestern region of the United States, while Forecast 3D boasts a significant customer base on the West Coast. Both companies are also users of HP’s additive manufacturing technology and founding members of the HP Digital Manufacturing Network. GKN is one of two production service partners to have its hands on HP’s Metal Jet Fusion technology and is working to further develop it ahead of commercialisation in 2021 and Forecast 3D has installed more than a dozen of the company’s polymer based Multi Jet Fusion platforms including two 5210 machines this summer.
Per GKN and Forecast 3D, the acquisition is mutually beneficial. The former now has a greater reach across the globe and an increased play across additive manufacturing’s material disciplines, while the latter now has the support of an experienced high-volume manufacturer.
“Forecast 3D is a perfect fit. They are everywhere we aren’t – geographies, markets, technologies and base materials,” commented Peter Oberparleiter, CEO of GKN Powder Metallurgy. “Combining our individual capabilities will present unparalleled advantages to our customer bases and enable us to cross-promote additive manufacturing in metal and plastic over more diversified markets. It is an important step on our journey to become no. 1 in this high growth market.”
“At Forecast 3D, our roots run deep in the world of nimble, low-volume polymer additive manufacturing,” offered Corey Weber, CEO and co-founder of Forecast 3D. “As we continue to branch out and focus on high-volume additive production, what better partner to pair with than GKN; a company that produces over 13 million parts per day? GKN’s resources, production experience and footprint will be the perfect fuel for this new Forecast 3D engine as we prime it for the new world of local, on-demand manufacturing.”
