RE:Tekna looks like a direct Plasma Powder competitorQuick follow-up on this...
There are indeed several companies around the world that use plasma to make metal powders. The demand is expected to be so great that a multitude of suppliers will be needed. For various reasons, these suppliers differ in the extent of their competitiveness.
The key difference is in technology and feedstock, but also includes volume potential and price potential.
Technology Tekna, for instance, uses a plasma technology called "inductively coupled plasma" (ICP), which requires electro-magnets to help create the arc.
PYR uses a reverse polarity plasma torch based on a technology called "DC non-transferred plasma".
While there are pros and cons to each technology, the DC non-transferred technology is generally considered more readily available at higher powers, offers more stable operation, less "flicker", and better control.
Feedstock Tekna's nano-powder process seems to require that they
start with existing higher purity metal powders (or create the base powder first), which is more expensive right out of the gate, before then conducting another process to make the spherical or nano-powders.
PYR's process allows them to use a cheaper and lower-purity product, raw metal wire -- then bypassing the entire step of first having to convert it to base powder. PYR goes right from raw wire to high-purity spherical or nano-powder.
Price and Volume Theoretically, the expectation of the PYR Purevap process is that it should significantly reduce the cost of making powders simply because it uses cheaper raw material. If all goes as expected, Tekna can't appear to compete on the raw material cost.
As for volume, again because of the use of lower cost raw wire, the avoidance of the additional step, and PYR's stated ability to replicate the process by creating additional reactor towers as needed, it appears they can eventually surpass the volume of most if not all nano-powder creators.
Casavantsghost wrote: This is not a sky is falling post.
You can only buy Tekna on the Euronext (Norway) They literally just listed March 3rd.
I beleive there is plenty of room for competition. It is odd that we've not heard of this company as of yet based upon they having the identical technology so it would seem?
https://www.tekna.com/icp-technology
(QUEBEC, CANADA), June 28th, 2018 – Tekna Plasma Systems Inc., a leading provider of metal powder solutions, has unveiled its plans to expand its global manufacturing output and boost its innovation capability. These investments reflect the company’s long-term commitment to the 3D printing and microelectronics markets.
Investment Outline – Scaled-Up Capacity
TEKNA’s project will help the company increase its global metal powder manufacturing capacity to over 1000 tons per year, in line with the growing demand of its active customer base. A first expansion phase in Canada and in France is set to be running full scale by Q3 2018 and will provide Tekna with an extra annual capacity of 250 tons.
If I could buy their stock I would.. and hold Pyro as well as this market is about to explode with exponential growth. |
I'd be curious to get a look at Tekna's actual hardware process.
In any event, I have zero concerns but... at least in 2018.. they were setting themselves up to be and THEY claim to be world leader in Plasma Powders.. So.. there is no time like the present to powder up Pete.. lol
https://www.tekna.com/news/tekna-plasma-systems-inc.-announces-plans-to-expand-its-global-manufacturing-output-and-boost-its-innovation-capability