Renishaw acquires pioneer in laser additive manufacturing

Pliezhausen, Germany - The business assets of LBC Laser Bearbeitungs Center GmbH, Kornwestheim, have been purchased by the German subsidiary of engineering company Renishaw. A new business, LBC Engineering, has been created that will be integrated within Renishaw GmbH.

Renishaw, a supplier of laser melting systems, will now offer additional additive manufacturing services, including design and simulation, and the contract manufacture of metal prototypes and production parts.

The deal will create a new business, LBC Engineering, comprised of former employees of LBC Laser Bearbeitungs Center GmbH , which will continue to offer services to its existing customers. The new business will be fully integrated within Renishaw GmbH at its offices in Pliezhausen.

LBC Laser Bearbeitungs Center GmbH, established in 2002 as a service provider for laser inscription and 3D laser engraving, is a recognized pioneer in the field of metal-based additive manufacturing. The company has mainly focused on the additive manufacture of conformally cooled mold tools and tool inserts for injection molding and die-casting applications. An important part of the service offered includes component design and simulation to maximize the economic benefits of laser-melted inserts.

Laser melting is an additive manufacturing process capable of producing fully dense metal parts direct from 3D CAD using a high-powered laser. Parts are built from a range of fine metal powders that are fully melted in a tightly controlled atmosphere layer-by-layer.

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