UK-based Materials Solutions Limited, an additive manufacturing company specialising in AM for metals in the aerospace and auto industries, has announced it has secured a strategic investment from the Venture Capital Unit of Siemens (SVC).
“I am extremely pleased that SVC has chosen to invest in Materials Solutions. I believe this investment validates Materials Solutions as the global technology leader in Additive Manufacturing of nickel superalloys.” Materials Solutions founder and CEO Carl Brancher commented “Since starting up in 2006, Materials Solutions has developed high performance materials and manufacturing processes for laser powder bed Additive Manufacturing particularly targeting gas turbine applications. Our capabilities in Additive Manufacturing reduce development time and improve new product performance for our customers.”
Materials Solutions is focused on the manufacture of high performance nickel superalloy components for both land and aero-based gas turbines, specialist steels and titanium components for aero systems and auto parts.
“There are now strong signs that Additive Manufacturing will move into mainstream production for land and aero gas turbine components”, said Ralf Schnell, CEO of the Venture Capital Unit of Siemens. “Materials Solutions are outstanding in capability and experience and we will support their expansion.”
“My team and I are very excited about the huge benefit for Siemens’ Additive Manufacturing Industrialisation Strategy resulting from this strategic collaboration”, said Andreas Fischer-Ludwig, Director Manufacturing Development & Industrialisation, for Siemens Large Gas Turbines, Generators Business Unit.
Markus Seibold, head of Enabling Manufacturing Technologies at Siemens Large Gas Turbines, Generators Business Unit, added: “We know the people at Materials Solutions well and they provide strong support for the introduction of Additive Manufacturing into our large gas turbines and distributed power generation products."
Materials Solutions is one of the largest commercially available metals additive manufacturing centres worldwide with a global customer base and multiple customer approvals for the supply of Additive Manufactured parts. The company recently increased its additive manufacturing capacity with the installation of a second EOS M400 system.