Optomec, TNSC form alliance for metal additive manufacturing

Optomec (Albuquerque, NM), which supplies additive manufacturing systems for 3D-printed metals and electronics, has formed a strategic alliance with Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation (TNSC; Tokyo, Japan), a supplier of industrial, specialty, and electronic gases. This alliance will enable TNSC, and its subsidiary Matheson (Montgomeryville, PA), to resell Optomec LENS 3D printers as part of a total additive manufacturing solution offering, including gases, powder feed stock, and metal heat treatment techniques. Optomec will also expand LENS 3D printer sales by utilizing TNSC's group sales network in Japan, the US, and Asia. As part of the alliance, TNSC has also made a capital investment in Optomec.

TNSC supplies metal welding solutions considered as the basic building block of most of today's metal printing technologies. They will leverage a unique expertise in welding processes, metal heat treatment, and controlled gas atmospheres to help lower costs, streamline production, and eliminate defects for additive manufacturing customers globally. This will be accomplished through dedicated technical teams for additive manufacturing technology at the R&D lab in Yamanashi, Japan, which will feature a LENS 3D printer to be used for applied technical support, demonstration services, and creation of innovative and efficient additive manufacturing solutions. This will be the first integrated metal additive manufacturing technology lab in Asia.

LENS 3D metal printers have been used in industry for almost two decades to cost-effectively produce, repair, and rework high-performance metal components in materials such as titanium, stainless steel, and nickel-based superalloys. Metal printers are used throughout the entire product lifecycle for applications ranging from materials research to repair and rework to low-volume manufacturing.

For more information, please visit www.optomec.com and www.tn-sanso.co.jp/en.