Oerlikon, Switzerland, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with GE Additive, Pittsburgh, to collaborate on accelerating the industrialization of additive manufacturing.
The five-year agreement between Oerlikon and GE specifies the provision of additive machines and services by GE to Oerlikon, while Oerlikon becomes a preferred AM component manufacturer and materials supplier to GE Additive and its affiliated companies. Further, GE and Oerlikon will collaborate on research and development in additive machines and materials over the period of the agreement. The MoU, announced at the Paris Air Show, includes GE Additive affiliated companies Concept Laser and Arcam AB.
In recent years, GE has been a leading end user and innovator in additive manufacturing. In addition to the $1.4 billion investment in Concept Laser and Arcam AB, GE has also invested approximately $1.5 billion in manufacturing and additive technologies over the past ten years.
GE has developed additive applications across six of its businesses, created new service applications across the company, and earned 346 patents in material science. In 2016, the company established GE Additive to become a leading supplier of additive technology, materials, and services for industries and businesses worldwide.
Oerlikon is an AM market leader with extensive expertise in advanced materials, AM production, post-processing, and surface solutions. In 2016, Oerlikon acquired Citim GmbH to complement its additive production capabilities in Europe and the United States. Oerlikon is also building a state-of-the-art AM powder production facility in Plymouth, Michigan; an R&D and production facility in Charlotte, North Carolina; and an R&D and innovation center in Munich, Germany.
