RE:RE:Some DDBuilding on CndnBacon response, I posted this on another forum. Hopefully it helps with your DD and builds on your understanding of Powder Technologies. Additionally you mentioned that Tekna had 71% growth in AM powders. To help put this in perspective and where Pyro is at they annouced the NexGen in March and would be upgrading their plants to accomodate the new technology. Once the upgrade is complete end users have to test the new powders in their parts. This can take several weeks/months. Upon successful testing they end user will then have a site inspection before signing any long term contract. He had spoken about site inspection late 2019, with the pandemic and no update on that I suspect its delayed.
If you have any other questions, many longs here are happy to answer. Here is the post from the other forum. Pay very close attention to the interview in the 21:00 minute mark.
HK
Silberbug67,
Let me see if I can help you here, and free up some of Peter's time. The short answer to your question is Yes, they both have patents, but no they do no infringe on one another. I will try to get, in Peter's words, "too star trek", in my explanation.
Tekna uses Inductively Coupled Plasma, which very simply, is based on electromagentic induction. This is different than how Pyro produces their plasma.
The second very important difference, which relates directly to the cost of production is feedstock. Tekna uses less spherical powder as a feedstock, and then introduces plasmam (ICP) and ithe powder is made into high quality powder. This is a very significant difference between the two powder production technologies.
"Our technology allows you to transform crushed, atomized and sponged powders into dense spherical powders."
This quote was taken for TEKNA website (link below). Their process uses powder as a feedstock and a different type of plasma technology. As you can imagine their process adds an additional step before plasma. Pyro NexGen powder tech uses wire as a primary feedstock, (I believe they can also use powder feedstock) but the primary difference is the different type of plasma technology.
Please review the below interview with Peter and Mr. Datillo, it should help you understand the significance of what is going on. Once you understand this interview read the NexGen press releases that came out a few months later. (Link also below)
Lastly, Peter has stated several times that the AM industry needs more powder suppliers and there is lots of room for other players.
Hopefully I have saved him some time and if I got anything wrong he will no doubt correct me.
Interview:
https://blog.agoracom.com/2019/01/15/interview-pyrogenesis-pyr-ca-discusses-partnership-agreement-with-aubert-duval-to-supply-plasma-atomized-titanium-powder-to-european-union-additive-manufacturing-3d-printing-market/
NexGen:
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/03/19/1757033/0/en/PyroGenesis-Unveils-its-New-NexGen-Plasma-Atomization-System-Significant-Production-Advancements-for-AM-Powders.html
Tekna:
https://www.tekna.com/our-icp-technology
Hope this helps.
HK
CndnBacon wrote: The PYR ceo answered this some time back on Agoracom, however I was unable to locate that discussion thread, however I have clipped a portion of a write up that was circulated " Only AP&C and PyroGenesis use plasma atomization, the very few other niche metal powder producers (e.g. Tekna) that are out there use alternate processes with limitations that would rule them out for most printer manufacturers, end users, and distributors." AP&C (GE)uses PYRs very old patented process, PYRs NEW plasma process takes it to the next level in a massive way. Tekna and PYRs processes are different in that PYR holds patents of their process, and niether ibfringes any of Teknas patents nor Tekna infringing on PYRs
Magicmike67 wrote:
Hello all.... New to the board so I appologize if this has been posted before.
Was doing so DD and came across a company called Tekna. They appear to be using the same techniques (Plasma Torches) for spherical powders and nanopowders as Pyrogenesis Additive and HPQ. They appear to be about 2-3 years ahead of us in terms of scaling up. For me this confirms the process HPQ and Pyrogenesis is using. Tekna is a sub of Arendals Fossekompanl ASA out of Norway, I went to Arendals website to see if I could find anything more on Tekna and found their 4 minute Q12020 presentation and in it they say Tekna increased powser sales by 71% over last year (although off low numbers). Let me know what you think.
Tekna
https://www.tekna.com/
Arendals Fossekompani ASA
https://arendalsfossekompani.no/en//#investeringer