With the acquisition of Metasphere Technology by Höganäs, competition for metal powders in the additive manufacturing market continues to intensify.
Headquartered in Luleå, Sweden, Metasphere was founded in 2009 and uses a combination of plasma and centrifugal force to atomize metals and produce spherical metal powders.
Specific details of the deal terms and technology were not disclosed.However, Fredrik Emilson, CEO of Höganäs, said: “Metasphere’s technology is unique and innovative.
The plasma atomization technology developed by Metasphere can be used to atomize metals, carbides and ceramics.Pioneering reactors operating at “very high temperatures” have so far been mainly used to make powders for surface coatings.However, as industrial production scales up, the focus will be “mainly in the additive manufacturing sector, where there is a high demand for innovative materials,” explains Emilson.
Höganäs said production capacity had not yet been finalized and that work to produce the reactor would begin in the first quarter of 2018.
Headquartered in Sweden, Höganäs is the world’s largest producer of powder metal products.Among the metal powders for the additive manufacturing market, a Swedish company, Arcam, through its subsidiary AP&C, is currently one of the leaders in the production of such materials.
The materials market was full of activity in 2017, with companies including Alcoa, LPW, GKN and PyroGenesis all making progress during the year.PyroGenesis is a particularly interesting company because of their expertise in the field as an IP developer used by AP&C.
Also notable are advances in software aimed at reducing the amount of metal powder used in the 3D printing process.For example, Materialise’s recently launched Metal e-Stage.
3D Lab in Poland is also a new type of business for the manufacture of metal powders.Their ATO One machine is aimed at users who need small batches of metal powder material – such as research labs – and is billed as “office friendly”.
Increased competition in the materials market is a welcome development, and the end result promises a wider palette of materials as well as lower price points.
Nominations for the second annual 3D Printing Industry Awards are now open.Let us know which material companies are leading the additive manufacturing industry right now.
For all the latest 3D printing industry news, subscribe to our free 3D printing industry newsletter, follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook.
Featured image shows Luleå Metasphere Technology founder Urban Rönnbäck and Höganäs CEO Fredrik Emilson.
Michael Petch is the Editor-in-Chief of 3DPI and the author of several 3D printing books.He is a frequent keynote speaker at technical conferences, giving talks such as 3D printing of graphene and ceramics and the use of technology to enhance food security.Michael is most interested in the science behind emerging technologies and the economic and social implications that come with them.