News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
Prototal Industries, the largest and most specialized manufacturing company for polymer additive manufacturing and injection molding in the Nordics, is expanding its operations into the UK through the acquisition of 3T Additive Manufacturing Polymers, the polymer AM service alter-ego of EOS partner 3T AM, for metal AM services, both part of AM Global Holding.
FATHOM, a leading AM service provider which is now part of the portfolio of companies owned by CORE Industrial Partners (a Chicago-based private equity firm), has acquired GPI Prototype & Manufacturing Services, LLC, a leading metal additive manufacturing services provider. CORE acquired Midwest Composite Technologies in 2018, and FATHOM and ICOMold in 2019. All four companies will be moving forward under the FATHOM brand.
DOMO Chemicals, a leader in Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) materials innovation, is strengthening its position as a key player in the additive manufacturing sector by partnering with ZARE, a leading 3D printed parts service bureau on the use of Sinterline Technyl PA6 powder for SLS.
BEAMIT, Italy’s largest metal additive manufacturing service bureau, has come a long way since 3dpbm staff last visited the company’s AM facilities in 2013. The Fornovo-based firm has grown into one of the largest metal AM factories in Europe and – by extension – worldwide. However, its expansion is not slowing down. In fact it is accelerating with an agreement to purchase 15 Selective Laser Melting machines from SLM Solutions within the next three years. The commitment emphasizes SLM Solutions as the preferred supplier for BEAMIT’s machines.
Perhaps some consolidation may finally be taking place in the all-too-fragmented global AM industry as materials giant BASF has acquired Sculpteo, a pioneer in exploring the opportunities of on-demand part production via AM. BASF has been taking AM very seriously lately, incrementing the company’s exposure in the market with a series of new products and partnerships.
GKN Powder Metallurgy, the division of GKN where most of the group’s AM activities are concentrated, has acquired FORECAST 3D, a large California-based firm that provides production 3D printing services leveraging multiple HP MJF systems. As GKN acquires FORECAST 3D, it adds 25 years of experience in polymers to its advanced additive manufacturing production capabilities and market leadership ambitions in this high growth market.
Swedish company Sandvik has just announced it has acquired a 30% stake in Beam-IT, an Italy-based provider of metal additive manufacturing services and 3D printed end-use components for a range of industries, including automotive, energy and aerospace.
Spanish manufacturing company Dynamical Tools has rebranded itself as Dynamical 3D and launched three independent branches all geared towards the additive manufacturing market. The three branches include Dynamical Tools, Dynamical Materials and Dynamical Printing. Together, the three divisions will offer a complete 3D printing solution to Dynamical Tools’ global clients.