Press release -
Uddeholm invests to become a key player in the supply of metal powder for 3D printing.
Swedish tool steel giant Uddeholm strongly believes that 3D printing and additive manufacturing (AM) will be an important production method for the future if complex tool production as well as complex components. Therefore Uddeholm is planning a major expansion in fine powder production.
The owners of Uddeholm, voestalpine, recently approved a major investment in Hagfors Sweden. The production of the fine metal powder will be done in a vacuum gas atomizer. And with their new resources, Uddeholm is prepared to meet the needs of a rapidly expanding market.
-I believe that 3D printing will create a paradigm shift in manufacturing. It will take some years until companies understands the benefits, but when they do the market will grow fast and Uddeholm will be a key player in this development, says Johnny Sjöström, CEO at Uddeholm.
-We already have a small plant for fine powder production, but the demand is higher than our capacity, therefore this investment is necessary. With this investment we can move forward with even sharper focus on creating the best tool steel solutions on the market.
The new facility will be used to manufacture AM-powder, but it’s also an asset for product development and process development in Uddeholm’s traditional powder steel business segment. By answering the market’s demand in AM, Uddeholm is expanding their area of expertise and securing their position as number one in yet another tool steel area.
-This is a game-changing addition to our palette of business-enhancing solutions. Uddeholm’s ambition is to be the first and the best in all relevant market segments. The new production plant in combination with our experience and expertise are essential means to reach our goal to be the best supplier of AM-powder within five years, says Pär Emanuelsson, Vice President Marketing and Sales at Uddeholm
Robert Gustafsson, Brand and Communication manager, Uddeholm
Mobil: +46 72 547 08 04
E-mail: robert.gustafsson@uddeholm.com
Uddeholm is the world’s leading manufacturer of tool steel for industrial tools. And that is no accident. We put our hearts into every piece of steel and every step of the process, from raw material to finished product. Technology is important, just as know-how and product development. But equally vital are desire and courage, power and a forward-looking spirit.
It’s about the passion within us – the love of steel!
