Sandvik AB, Sweden, has inaugurated its highly automated titanium powder plant in Sandviken, an important step in meeting the increasing market demands for titanium powder for additive manufacturing.
“The additive process results in far less material waste than traditional subtractive techniques, while also encouraging new levels of design freedom. This is opening up the use of titanium in industries such as automotive and tooling,” says Mikael Schuisky, Head of R&D and Operations at the Additive Manufacturing division in Sandvik.
Titanium is noted for having exceptional material properties, being strong yet light and offering high levels of corrosion resistance. At the same time, it is biocompatible. However, the cost and complexity of machining from titanium billet have historically restricted its use to high-value, low volume industries such as aerospace and medical.
“With the addition of titanium powder, the Sandvik materials offering to Additive Manufacturing is complete. In addition, we can also tailor the powder to any printing process, thanks to our extensive in-house capabilities in Additive Manufacturing”, said Keith Murray, Head of Global Sales at the Additive Manufacturing division.
“Having atomized fine metal powders for more than 40 years, and producing titanium for the aerospace industry since the 1980s, Sandvik is no stranger to powder atomization or to the meticulous demands of the most demanding industries,” said Martin Mueller, Powder Operations Manager at the Additive Manufacturing division.
