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Advanced material provider, Oerlikon have announced that it will build a new state-of-the-art additive manufacturing facility in Michigan, USA.
The new site, based in Plymouth Township, will be dedicated to producing advanced AM materials and high-end surface coatings. This investment is another step forward as Oerlikon strive to become a powerhouse in surface solutions advanced materials. It will also serve to accelerate the industrialisation of additive manufacturing in the States.
Such is the demand for advanced and newer materials for industrial applications, Oerlikon have felt it necessary to construct the new facility, allowing them to strengthen their materials capabilities. Oerlikon expect this demand to further increase in the coming years, making it one of the key growth areas in metal-based additive manufacturing.
The facility will be a base where the latest materials, such as advanced titanium alloys for the additive manufacturing market and certain high-end thermal spray powders, are produced. Oerlikon have stated it will be fully equipped with next-generation VIGA technology, which combines vacuum induction melting with inert gas atomisation systems. VIGA is one of the most versatile methods for processing a variety of metals and alloys into powders, and offers improved process efficiency and yields.
Additionally, the facility will include a research and development (R&D) laboratory to generate further developments of titanium and other alloys for joint R&D projects with customers. It will also have the ability to produce customised powders in small batches.
“We intend to take a leading position in the industrialisation of additive manufacturing and are convinced that the facility in Plymouth Township will ignite this ambition,” said Dr Roland Fischer, CEO of Oerlikon Group. “This investment marks an important step in our plans to grow our strong presence in North America, and is a key milestone for us to become a leading service provider for the fast-expanding additive manufacturing market. I would like to thank the Michigan Business Development Programme for their support, and we look forward to becoming part of this community.”
Initially, Oerlikon plans to invest approximately $50 million in the facility. The Group has the option of further expanding and developing the site to meet customer demand, as and when it increases.
The new facility complements Oerlikon Metco’s existing site in Troy, Michigan, where advanced materials for surface solutions are produced. Around 70 staff will be employed in Plymouth Township, which is regarded as being a high-tech corridor, where many leading industrial research facilities are based. The facility is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2017.
