Open Additive LLC of Beavercreek, Ohio, has been awarded a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase II development effort to support the Air Force’s Landing Gear Test Facility (LGTF) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (SCOA), the largest subsidiary of Sumitomo Corp., entered into an agreement to increase its investment in Sintavia LLC. Hollywood, Fla.-based Sintavia is a tier-one metal additive manufacturer for the aerospace and space industries. The parties jointly announced that the minority investment, which follows an initial investment by SCOA in 2018, will be used to fund Sintavia’s growing business of providing additively manufactured parts to the world’s largest aerospace and space companies.

VELO3D and Lam Research Corp. announced a joint development agreement that includes collaboration on novel materials and designs in metal additive manufacturing (AM) for the semiconductor industry. Lam Research plans to significantly increase the volume of parts produced by AM over the next five years. Campbell, Calif.-based VELO3D will develop new metal alloys on its Sapphire printer that are critical to Lam Research designs and technologies. Lam Capital will also invest an undisclosed amount in VELO3D.

Lincotek Additive completed a state-of-the-art Additive Production Center for medical devices in its Trento, Italy, facility by installing a new high-vacuum furnace and a validated heat-treatment process specifically designed for 3D-printed titanium parts. The project – along with an expansion in lab capabilities – will triple the capacity for thermal treatment at the site.

Phillips Federal, a division of Phillips Corp., added the technologies of SPEE3D to support its Public Private Partnership (P3) and additive-manufacturing programs at Rock Island Arsenal (RIA). SPEE3D’s LightSPEE3D machine prints aluminum parts in minutes using a technology called cold-spray additive manufacturing (CSAM). It addresses many of the Army’s current readiness challenges in the field. LightSPEE3D printers work on a cold-fusion principle utilizing only compressed air, and no volatile gases or heat sources are required to bond layers together.

After much analysis, feedback from attendees and the uncertainty of COVID-19, the MTI Board of Trustees has approved transition to a virtual format for Furnaces North America 2020. Attendees will be able to experience the virtual exhibit hall for free. For those wanting to view the three live panel discussions and 35 technical sessions, FNA is offering a special for attendees of $199 for each of the first two registrants from a company and $49 for every person after that. To qualify, everyone must register on the same online registration form. 

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The BMW Group opened its new Additive Manufacturing Campus in Germany. The facility brings together production of prototype and series parts under one roof, in addition to research into 3D-printing technologies and training for the global rollout of toolless production. It will allow the BMW Group, which produced about 300,000 parts by additive manufacturing last year, to develop its position as technology leader in the utilization of additive manufacturing in the automotive industry. The campus, which was an investment of approximately $16.8 million, operates around 50 industrial systems that work with metals and plastics.

QuesTek Innovations LLC developed a stainless steel composition for powder-bed-fusion additive manufacturing (AM) for use either in the as-printed condition or with a single low-temperature heat treatment. This development allows for production of complex, high-strength stainless parts via AM that are comparable to wrought 17-4 PH but without the need for cryogenic processing or high-temperature heat treatment. According to QuesTek, a fully martensitic microstructure is achieved in the as-printed condition with its QT 17-4 powders.

A hot isostatic press (HIP) from Quintus Technologies will enable Italy’s Flame Spray SpA, a thermal-spray coatings provider, to respond to growing demand for densification and heat treatment as additive manufacturing (AM) increasingly takes hold in aerospace parts production. The press will streamline the workflow by integrating the ability to stress relieve, HIP, heat treat and age parts in a single cycle. The combination of high pressure and heat treatment (HPHT) in one system enhances efficiency and reduces per-unit processing costs while generating savings in space, energy and infrastructure. Uniform rapid cooling (URC) capability minimizes thermal distortion and non-uniform grain growth, producing finished parts with optimal material properties.