Metallurgy specialist and leader in high-performance steels, superalloys, titanium and aluminium, Aubert & Duval has entered into an agreement with PyroGenesis, a Canadian expert in advanced plasma manufacturing processes, for the supply of titanium powders for additive manufacturing (AM).
Aubert & Duval, a subsidiary of French multinational mining and metallurgy company, Eramet, is extending its portfolio of AM metal feedstock with the distribution of plasma-atomised titanium powders to the European market. Under this agreement, the company will become the exclusive distributor of these powders in Europe, which Eramet believes will enable a 15% market share of titanium powders in the region by 2022. The new titanium offer will be marketed under the Pearl Micro brand.
Jérôme Fabre, Eramet Group's Deputy CEO in charge of the Alloys division, commented: "With our metallurgical expertise for demanding markets such as aeronautics and energy, this partnership with PyroGenesis allows us to complete our offer of metal powders for additive manufacturing, including 3D printing, a growing market of the industry of the future."
Eramet Group's Alloys division currently produces superalloys and metal powders primarily for the energy, defense and automotive industries for applications including aircraft engines and land turbines.
PyroGenesis is the inventor of Plasma Atomization, a process which produces very small, uniform, fully dense and spherical metal powders that flow like water, highly sought after in the AM Industry. The company announced its first order of 3D printing powders back in 2017 and has since launched a dedicated AM division “PyroGenesis Additive”.