From 3D Mfg Based in Laufenburg and Goslar, Germany the metal powder producer H.C. Starck Surface Technology and Ceramic Powders GmbH has announced a new range of metal powders for additive manufacturing.
The AMPERPRINT range includes nickel, cobalt and iron based powders of all major standard compositions as well as customized solutions.The metal powders are produced using gas atomization and designed with metal 3D printing in mind.
HC Starck metal powders for additive manufacturing Metal powder available Q4 2017
H.C. Starck also report that they are refining their logistic processes. Standard alloys will be stocked from Q4 2017 onwards. The final quarter of the year is often a strong one for additive manufacturing, coming as it does at the same time as Germany’s Formnext trade show, traditionally a time when OEM’s can expect to sign major deals.
CEO Shashi Shukla says, ”the introduction of the AMPERPRINT® concept is a further milestone to strengthen H.C. Starck’s position in the continuously growing 3D printing market.”
H.C. Starck is already a significant market participant in the metal sector. For the past 40 years the company has supplied gas atomized AMPERSINT metal powder for metallurgical processes such as hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and metal injection molding (MIM). In 2016 the company employed approximately 2.600 people in the USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, China, Japan and Thailand.
The announcement of the AMPERPRINT range comes in a year where the number of competitors in the metal powder market is increasing.
Increasing competition in the metal powder market
In July we reported on a joint venture between GE Aviation and ATI to develop a new meltless titanium alloy powder manufacturing technology.
In June, PyroGenesis Additive was announced as a spin-off from Canadian plasma specialist PyroGenesis. Production of metal powders at PyroGenesis Additive uses the company’s proprietary plasma atomization process, patented in 2015.
In May GKN Hoeganaes, the powder metallurgy branch of international engineering company GKN, announced the start of titanium production at its Powder Innovation Center in Cinnaminson, NJ.
Arconic also has invested substantially in the production of metal powders for additive manufacturing. Speaking at the time Alcoa Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Klaus Kleinfeld said, “Alcoa is forging a leadership path in additive manufacturing with a sharp focus on the critical input material—metal powders.”