Cummins invests in GE Additive metal binder jetting technology as company reveals new generation beta machine

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GE Additive Binder Jet BETA H2 machine

GE Additive's beta H2 binder jetting platform.

Cummins, a Fortune 500 manufacturer, has invested in GE Additive’s metal binder jetting technology, taking on the company’s beta H2 platform.

GE Additive first announced its move into the binder jetting segment in December 2017, revealing images of a prototype system with the project name ‘H1’. In the interim, it has worked to develop a second generation of the system and, in the last couple of months, established a beta programme. The company expects to make its metal binder jetting technology commercially available – potentially with a new name – in early 2021.

Through a strategic partnership, Cummins was already a user of GE Additive technology, with two Concept Laser M2 DMLM machines installed across facilities in Columbus, USA and San Luis Potosi, Mexico. It now has multiple H2 binder jetting machines located at GE Additive’s Cincinnati, Ohio location, with Cummins engineers onsite to work on technology development, before the machines are relocated to Cummins’ facilities later this year.

Cummins is bringing additive technologies in-house to shake up its manufacturing processes. The company is first targeting the production of low-volume parts with a view to leveraging the technology on higher volume manufacturing in the future. It recently sold its first additively manufactured part, a low-volume bracket produced with the Concept Laser M2 and is hoping once the H2 binder jetting platform is up and running, more will follow.

“By investing in metal additive technologies from GE Additive, we are investing in Cummins and our customers,” commented Tim Millwood, Vice President of Global Manufacturing at Cummins, Inc. “This technology has the potential to provide our customers with quicker, lower-cost production method that ultimately uses less energy, which means we can better serve our customers and reduce our environmental impact.”

“In early 2019, we launched the beta testing and partner programme and deliberately sought out partners and key customers, like Cummins, who are committed to mass production,” added Jake Brunsberg, Binder Jet Product Line Leader, GE Additive. “As Cummins celebrates its 100^th year, it remains steadfast in its commitment to being at the cutting edge of innovation. Above all, we want to partner with companies whose businesses and customers will benefit tremendously from binder jet technologies.”