REGEMAT3D, based in Granada, Spain has completed its second round of equity crowdfunding. Thanks to the participation of more than 500 investors, a total of €515,402 has been raised, which …
As we know by now, additive manufacturing technology has been around for a while and is evolving every day, but design is still the key to unlocking the full potential …
As a media and market research firm operating in the global additive manufacturing space, 3dpbm is now focused on understanding the actual benefits of AM adoption across the many vertical …
Lauralyn McDaniel, of ASME´s Metrix Connect, is incredibly experienced in medical device manufacturing, standards, and additive manufacturing. From the podcast episode, you can hear her brilliant mind operate as she parlays complex concepts into easily digestible material. She’s a real wealth of information and we really feel like we can do another four podcasts with her about standards development, aerospace, implementing standards in your organization and more.
It’s a pretty calm week in the world of 3D printing and advanced manufacturing webinars and events, so enjoy the break! Hannover Messe is taking place, Nanoscribe is hosting an online training week, ASME and ASTM are both holding webinars, 3DHEALS will discuss 3D printing for veterinary medicine, and more. Read on for all the details!
May 30 – June 2: Hannover Messe
First up, Hannover Messe returns as a hybrid event, with both a digital and an in-person trade show experience, starting on Monday, May 30th and ending Thursday, June 2nd. Portugal is the partner company for the event, which will focus on seven specific topics: Automation, Motion & Drives; Energy Solutions; Digital Ecosystems; Engineered Parts & Solutions; Future Hub; Logistics; and Global Business & Markets. Approximately 150 startups will demonstrate their solutions and products at the show, the HERMES AWARD will be presented, and the 19th Career Congress will also take place during Hannover Messe. The trade show is welcoming over 2,500 exhibitors, including Markforged, Aerosint, Autodesk, and others from the AM industry.
“Whether you are an automation engineer, developer, production manager or IT expert. Whether you manage supply and energy or want to lead your company sustainably into the future: Take a tour of selected topics to get an efficient overview of your issues. For the first time, the popular HANNOVER MESSE Guided Tours will be hybrid.”
You can purchase a ticket for Hannover Messe here.
May 30 – June 2: Nanoscribe’s Online Training Week
Also from May 30-June 2, Nanoscribe is holding an Online Training Week with both basic and advanced courses for all customers and systems users. The company’s Customer Success and Service Team wants to make it easy for beginners to start using high-precision 3D printing, and give advanced users the best support so they can continue expanding their expertise in 3D small, medium, and large feature solution sets, as well as learning about advanced features and how to optimize print jobs. Dr. Aaron Kobler, Customer Success Expert at Nanoscribe, will be the on-hand expert during training week. Basic Training will be held at 7 am EST (1 pm CEST) on May 30th, with Advanced Training for 3D Small Feature Solution Set at the same time on the 31st, 3D Medium Feature Solution Set at the same time on the 1st, and 3D Large Feature Solution Set at the same time on the 2nd.
“Our online training is available for our customers and systems users. Find more information about booking an online training in the NanoGuide. To initially register as a customer with Nanoscribe, please provide your affiliation and institutional address to us through your printer administrator. Contact us for more details or if you are interested in an individual training exclusively for your team.”
May 31 – June 3: 65th International Conference on EIPBN
Nanoscribe will also be attending the 65th International Conference on Electron, Ion and Photon Beam Technology and Nanofabrication (EIPBN) in New Orleans this week, which is apparently also known as “3-Beams” and welcomes engineers and scientists dedicated to electron, ion, and photon analysis, imaging, and lithography, in addition to nanofabrication processes and atomically precise fabrication. Nanoscribe will be there discussing its Quantum X product line, including the flagship Quantum X align high-precision 3D printer and Quantum X bio system for miniaturizing bioprinting to produce cell and tissue scaffolds.
“The conference opens on Tuesday with a short course session covering introductory and current topics. A special commercial session featuring exhibitors and sponsors is held Tuesday afternoon. Plenary and poster sessions are held Wednesday morning. Invited and contributing papers are presented during three parallel sessions. Presentations, including questions and discussion, are 30 minutes for invited papers and 20 minutes for contributed papers. An important feature of the program is the poster session, which provides opportunity for extended discussions with the authors. There are two formal poster sessions, but posters are displayed for informal viewing throughout the entire conference. Throughout the conference there are various focused workshops and networking events including the welcome reception, the Women in Nanotechnology luncheon, the student mentoring session, the student breakfast, and, of course, the conference banquet.”
May 31: ASME’s Certification & Accreditation Programs
Moving on from events, ASME is holding a webinar at 1 pm EST on the 31st on how to “Access New Markets with ASME's CA Programs.” Attendees will hear from Chris Mahler, the Director of Engagement and Outreach for ASME’s Conformity Assessment department, and also learn how the organization’s certification and accreditation programs can help companies achieve process efficiencies, reduce costs, comply with necessary regulations, and increase the safety and quality of their products.
“Today’s world is an interconnected environment where growth is fueled by international trade. ASME's Conformity Assessment (CA) Certification and Accreditation programs have helped leverage the playing field for many businesses, enabling them to enter new markets and compete with larger, more established entities.”
At 10 am EST on Wednesday, June 1st, TriMech is holding the first of two webinars this week, about “Exciting New Tools and Incentive Program to Upgrade your Old SOLIDWORKS.” Presented by TriMech’s Wayne White, 3DEXPERIENCE Solutions Consultant, and Alissa Podgorny, 3DEXPERIENCE Production Sales Specialist, the webinar will cover understanding the SOLIDWORKS subscription, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and its architecture, and how teams can grow with 3DEXPERIENCE by using its powerful cloud data management tools.
“We all know the many benefits of subscription – latest updates, technical support and customer care visits. But did you know there are additional reasons to consider coming back on to maintenance? Join us for our webinar to learn more.”
June 2: ASME on Metal PBF-LB Build Orientation & Supports
You’ll learn all about supports in ASME’s webinar on “Metal PBF-LB Build Orientation and Supports Considerations” at 10 am EST on June 2nd. Mark Kirby, who leads industry outreach and AM training at the University of Waterloo's Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing (MSMA) lab, will cover topics including why supports are needed, the interaction between supports and build orientation, support removal, neglected parameters, and more. Attendees will learn decision-making workflows and frameworks, how to evaluate the pros and cons of build layouts, and more.
“Love them or loathe them, supports are literally the foundation of most LPBF builds. Getting this part of the process right is critical to success. Unfortunately it seems that recipes for good supports are often learnt the hard way, and may not be formally documented. This is the definition of art vs science. The webinar will attempt to shed light on the science of supports, by exploring many practical examples of both success and failure.”
Also at 10 am EST on the 2nd, TriMech is holding its second webinar of the week, “Simulation Tools Available on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform.” Presented by TriMech’s Matt Kokoski, Technical Manager – 3DEXPERIENCE, and the aforementioned Podgorny, the webinar will cover the available basic simulation tools on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform. Attendees will learn how to set up and solve a structural problem, use cloud computing resources in problem-solving, changing a design and verifying that change, and more.
“Join us to learn more about the simulation tools available on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform. Learn how to take a design done in SOLIDWORKS and verify how well it will work under load. We will look at where areas of high stress occur and what changes we can make, and then use the platform to verify those changes.”
June 2: 3DHEALS on 3D Printing for Veterinary Medicine
Finally, 3DHEALS is holding a webinar on “3D Printing for Veterinary Medicine” at 2 pm EST on Thursday, June 2nd. As the American Pet Product Association (APPA) reports, the current industry for pet-related products is worth more than $100 billion, with one-third of those related to veterinary medicine, and the industry is still growing. In this webinar by 3DHEALS, a group of international clinicians, imagers, and designers who care for our pets and other animals will speak about their use of 3D printing and related technologies in their jobs. Additionally, attendees will have networking time, and Pitch3D startups and investors will have an opportunity to connect during a breakout session; just apply here.
“According to AVMA, Vets experienced a 50% increase in new pets per week Mar-Aug. 2020. Similar to human society, the pet market experiences similar supply chain and manufacturing challenges. Can 3D printing provide better, more efficient veterinary care and a more robust supply chain than the traditional way of things?”
We’re starting today’s 3D Printing News Briefs with a new system announcement, as Farsoon just introduced its FS200M×2 platform to the AMEA and North America AM market. Moving on, Senvol and Northrop Grumman presented together at RAPID about using machine learning to improve process parameter optimization. Finally, United Performance Metals announced a new Additive Manufacturing Solutions Center, and a new Innovation Centre for advanced materials & digitalization was established by TWI and Manchester Metropolitan University.
Farsoon Introduces New FS200M×2 Metal 3D Printer
Farsoon Technologies has introduced the latest addition to its medium-size metal LPBF line—the FS200M×2 platform, with a powerful dual 500-watt laser configuration and 425 x 230 x 300 mm build volume. The company says the versatile, compact printer offers maximized productivity and turn-over rates, and is well-suited for medium to high volume metal series production and prototyping. The FS200Mx2 is an open system, like all of Farsoon’s printers, and features advanced calibration algorithms, an efficient top-feed powder system, a high build volume rate, and an integrated, two-stage filter module that offers a back-flush function for filter life and repeatable part quality. Additionally, its unique re-coater blade design and advanced gas flow layout help ensure uniform part properties, and in-chamber cameras monitor and record layer-to-layer data; if a build error or short feed is detected, the software will automatically pause the build or recoat.
“Farsoon's FS200M is a high-value proposition metal system in pursuit of productivity, cost-efficiency and ease of use for a wide range of industrial applications,” said Don Xu, Director of Farsoon Global Business Group and Managing Director of Farsoon Americas Corp. “The rectangular build chamber is well suited for fabrication of large parts which favor one axis, such as applications in aerospace, automotive and tooling.”
Senvol, Northrop Grumman Talk Machine Learning for Process Parameters
At last week’s RAPID + TCT in Detroit, Senvol President Zach Simkin and Tayelor McKay, Principal Additive Manufacturing Engineer at Northrop Grumman, spoke together in a featured presentation about “Improved Process Parameter Optimization Using Machine Learning.” The briefing was focused on the technical results of a recently completed America Makes program about process parameter development through machine learning, and a side-by-side comparison showed how a machine learning-enabled approach was more accurate than a traditional one. There were 219,856 different possible parameter combinations to choose from in the program, and the partners used Senvol’s AM machine learning software, Senvol ML, for optimal selection of the parameters that could deliver several performance requirements. The end of the project was a validation build, which demonstrated the successful ML-enabled approach for choosing the best process parameter sets.
“In sum, this presentation explained how the machine learning approach is different from traditional approaches, detailed the technical results of this program, and walked the audience through the steps that a user can take to rapidly find optimal parameters while minimizing data generation time and costs,” Senvol wrote.
United Performance Metals Unveiled New AM Solutions Center
Cincinnati, Ohio-based United Performance Metals (UPM), which offers premier specialty metals solutions from its facilities around the world, recently announced the unveiling of its new additive manufacturing solutions center in Hamilton, Ohio. UPM is an O’Neal Industries affiliate company, and offers a wide range of high-performance metals and alloys, in addition to custom supply chain solutions, quality approvals, and FIRSTCUT+® Processing Services for the AM market. At its new Hamilton facility, UPM will provide new stainless steel, nickel, and titanium build plates that are customized to any machine or size.
“We are thrilled to launch our new innovative additive facility as it builds on our history of providing specialty solutions and services to the most innovative companies in the world. We have been working hard over the last two years to build this facility and the feedback from customers has been incredible. We are humbled and honored with the customer response and are adding resources and capabilities to meet their evolving needs,” said JJ Johnson, General Manager of UPM’s new additive manufacturing solutions facility.
TWI & Manchester Metropolitan University Establish Innovation Centre
Finally, Manchester Metropolitan University and engineering research and technology organization TWI have launched a joint initiative with a focus on the circular economy, digitalization, advanced coatings and materials, and additive manufacturing. As part of this initiative, the two have established a new Advanced Materials and Digitalisation Innovation Centre (AMDIC). As part of this collaboration, a multidisciplinary group of experts will work together on R&D projects that combine disruptive technologies, like AM, with commercial and market potential. The new Centre will complement, and draw on, research currently taking place at the university, and some of the specific technological and industrial areas and challenges that will be addressed at the Centre include designing and engineering novel concepts and materials to make hydrogen technologies cost-competitive, creating innovations in digital manufacturing, product design, and new AM materials development with a circular economy approach, and more.
“Sustainability is core to our University. We are already working with businesses to shape the capabilities and technologies needed to deliver a net zero economy as well as helping those businesses reach their sustainability goals,” said Prof. Andy Gibson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University. “The Advanced Materials and Digitalisation Innovation Centre will enable our impactful research to identify innovative ways to protect the environment and contribute to both economic growth and sustainable industries.”
Ivaldi Group has entered into an agreement with the Alaska Ocean Cluster to explore how digitized supply chains and on-demand manufacturing could contribute to the revitalization of Alaska's coastal ocean economy. Alaska Ocean Cluster is a startup accelerator that was founded in 2020, dedicated to promoting innovation in Alaska's maritime and other ocean-related industries.
Image courtesy of Wilhelmsen
As the organization puts it on its website, "With over 33,000 miles of shoreline, 158 coastal communities, and one of the largest, most sustainable wild-catch fisheries in the world, Alaska is an ideal location to develop, test, and commercialize new ocean technologies." As such, Ivaldi, which specializes in additive manufacturing (AM) based logistical solutions for the maritime industry, is a perfect recipient of Alaska Ocean Cluster's funding.
Image courtesy of Ivaldi Group
Ivaldi's principal investor is the Norwegian company Wilhelmsen, which operates the largest maritime network in the world. Thus far, outside of Singapore, one of the main hubs of global maritime traffic, and one of Wilhelmsen's primary operating locales, maritime 3D printing has lagged behind other comparable sectors, like aerospace and automotive. However, increasing interest and investment in the technology from the U.S. Navy indicates that maritime could soon enough be an area of significant growth for the 3D printing sector.
Valdez, Alaska. Image courtesy of Wikipedia
Alaska has the third-highest number of maritime workers per capital of any U.S. state, and includes the city of Valdez, which is the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS), one of the world's largest crude oil pipelines. Considering that SmarTech Analysis projects 3D printing for oil and gas to generate over $1 billion in revenues by 2029 (see “The Market for Additive Manufacturing in the Oil and Gas Sector 2018-2029“), the combination could lead to Alaska becoming a surprising region of growth for AM. This is the case especially given Alaska's being the U.S.'s most sparsely-populated state, yielding the need to maximize labor out per person, which is an objective AM can certainly make a significant contribution towards.
Moreover, increased incorporation of AM in the maritime industry would inevitably have consequences for AM reverberating far outside this sub-sector. Ivaldi's business model, for instance, relies on a network of 3D printing service bureaus being in place in the areas where its customers operate. The more the maritime industry adopts AM, the more incentive and momentum there is in the direction hubs of maritime traffic also becoming hubs for AM. The most exciting angle to this is the fact that maritime traffic hubs are of course also the key geographical links in global supply chains, further multiplying the potential for streamlining global commercial traffic, the more that the maritime industry adopts AM.
It's a whirlwind ride for up-and-coming startups in the booming private space industry. According to a Space Capital report, there have been $252.9 billion in cumulative global equity investments into 1,694 different companies in the space economy since 2021. 2021 alone was a record year for space investment, with $46.3 billion dedicated to all space-technology activity. If that weren't enough, these next few years would witness several inaugural flights from newcomers, so the pressure is on for many of these startups to make their way into a very heated new space race.
One of the startups in this competitive domain has been leveraging 3D printing technology for its rockets since its inception. Launcher, a California-headquartered small launch vehicle manufacturer, is developing a high-performance kerosene and liquid oxygen or kerolox rocket engine (code-named E-2) by partnering with additive manufacturing giants Velo3D and AMCM.
Just weeks after Launcher's 3D-printed E-2 engine achieved full thrust for the first time in a performance boost test at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, the company announced a new $1.7 million contract from the U.S. Space Force, the newest branch of the U.S. military. The Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) award is designed to help bridge the capability gap between current Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II efforts and Phase III scaling efforts, facilitating the delivery of strategic capabilities for the Air Force.
E-2 is a closed cycle engine and its high-pressure (310 bar), high-efficiency, single-shaft turbopump development is moving forward in parallel. In March 2022, Launcher successfully tested E-2's turbine and liquid oxygen pump in boost mode at 130% nominal flow, while photos of its full-scale thrust test at Stennis were posted on social media.
Described by Launcher Head of Manufacturing Tim Berry as the highest performance kerolox engine chamber ever made in the U.S., E-2 put up some impressive numbers in the latest test trip, demonstrating about 22,046 pound-feet of thrust (roughly ten metric tons of thrust) utilizing LOX/Kerosene at 100 bar of combustion strain.
Berry said that "at 290s of ISP (specific impulse) sea-level/327s vacuum (non-vac optimized) and 96.5% C* efficiency, we are getting very close to repeating our trademark kerolox that started with the E1 engine."
Launcher’s E-2 engine during testing. Image courtesy of Launcher
On the AM side, the thrust chamber for this unit is uniquely liquid oxygen cooled, and 3D printed as a single piece on AMCM's M4K platform using copper alloy, which the company stated: "performed exceptionally well." Since copper is ideal for removing heat from the running engine as it is an excellent conductor, building the combustion chamber in one part minimizes weight, has no bolts to hold the parts together, and no seams to fail. On the other hand, the E-2's co-axial swirl injector was fabricated on Velo3D's Sapphire metal AM system and drives combustion efficiency above 97.5%.
A single E-2 closed-cycle 3D-printed, high-performance liquid rocket engine will power the Launcher Light launch vehicle to orbit in 2024 during its first test flight. The liquid-fueled rocket will measure 15.2 meters long and 1.1 in diameter and carry 150 kg and 105 kg payloads into low Earth orbit (LEO) and sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), respectively. The entire assembled Launcher Light is ground transportable and will operate from globally dispersed launch sites with minimal to no permanent infrastructure.
3D printed one-piece copper rocket engine, the E-2. Image courtesy of Launcher.
As the latest milestone for Launcher, the U.S. Space Force funds will help further develop its E-2 liquid rocket engine, which the Space Force considers a priority.
In a memorandum from June 2021, the military branch stated that "Launcher's high-performance engine design materially increases a rocket's payload capacity by consuming less propellant while generating the same thrust. As a result, Launcher's E-2 liquid rocket engine also has the potential to significantly reduce the price to deliver small satellites to orbit on dedicated small launch vehicles, which is a key capability and priority for the Space Force."
Awarded on May 18, 2022, this contract provides Launcher with additional funding to advance and accelerate the development of Launcher's E-2 engine, including full-duration testing of the E-2 turbopump in-flight configuration housings with the two-stage fuel pump at Stennis Space Center and long-duration testing of the E-2 combustion chamber, also at Stennis.
Launcher is the first small launch company to use 3D printed copper alloy and leads in small launch 3D printed technology with its development of the first large format (100 x 45 x 45 cm) custom 3D printer in partnership with AMCM.
Launcher’s E-2 engine. Image courtesy of Launcher.
In parallel, the startup is working with Velo3D on 3D printed metal tanks, both as a structure and to hold propellant, for its Orbiter spacecraft, a satellite transfer vehicle and hosted payload platform scheduled to reach orbit in October 2022 on SpaceX's Falcon 9 Transporter-6 rideshare launch. The duo uses optimal design without needing DfAM to complete prints of Orbiter's 22-liter tanks, matching Sapphire's build volume.
Both the Launcher Light and Orbiter are two major developments that use 3D manufacturing, with the mission to expand access to space. With a satellite launch market expected to grow from $8 billion today to $38 billion in 2030, Launcher is betting on 3D printing technologies to advance its rocket fabrication capabilities. At its 24,000-square-foot office and factory floor in Hawthorne, it boasts an in-house team of welders, machinists, technicians, and 3D printing machines from EOS, AMCM, Velo3D, and Solukon, enough to develop and produce the first Orbiters and Launcher Light vehicles.
If ever there was a niche for 3D printing, it would be cosplay. Cosplay (the practice of dressing up as a character from a movie, book, or video game) is the perfect avenue to utilize the technology. Before the availability of desktop 3D printers, most cosplayers relied upon materials like EVA foam, craft foam, Worbla, etc. to make intricate cosplay armor and props. 3D printing can now easily replace most of these items, and it has become a key component for producing outfits and props.
Professional costumers and prop makers have always worked closely with cosplayers. However, once 3D printing entered the arena, it was a match made in Asgard. As a child, Lloyd Roberts dreamt of making his very own Spartan suit from Halo. When he finally became a 3D designer and got his first 3D printer in 2012, he suddenly had the ability to produce anything he could dream of. After designing an incredible sword from The Legend of Zelda that went viral, he realized he could open his own costume and cosplay prop business, Forg3d Props.
3D printed cosplay from Forg3D.
Roberts is very fervent about making things, 3D printing, and 3D design, and has always dreamt of starting his own business. Giving people what is intangible in a game or film drove him to build an arsenal of weapons and props for people. Forg3d Props is a company that will bring anyone's wishes to life with 3D design and 3D printing. The company specializes in creating for those who don't have access to a 3D printer, lack the design skills, or are unable to find an off-the-shelf item.
It’s not just individuals who are seeking out cosplayers to see what they can create with 3D printing. Just a few years back, when Marvel was designing its replacement for Iron Man, the media giant reached out to self-taught 3D artist, designer and dreamer Melissa Ng for her take on parts of the Ironheart armor.
Melissa Ng with her 3D printed Iron Man cosplay. Image courtesy of Melissa Ng.
When the company first contacted her, Ng thought that Marvel had mistaken her for a prop maker, which she is not. Her assumption was that they wanted only replicas, but she was quite surprised when they said they wanted her to share her own take on the Ironheart armor.
Of course, no discussion about the intersection of 3D printing and cosplay would be complete without analyzing how it's used to prepare for conventions. The prodigious Bindi Smalls works hard year-round preparing for events such as Dragon Con. 3D printing is such a core component of her cosplay creations that she now runs the Geek Fab Lab, a 3D printing hub and authorized reseller of LulzBot 3D printers.
Bindi Smalls with a fleet of LulzBot 3D printers. Image courtesy of Smalls on Facebook.
Smalls owns an astounding 11 different 3D printers, including those from Formlabs and LulzBot. At times, she has even had to unplug household appliances to be able to run all of them at the same time. Astonishingly, around 90 percent of her non-cloth cosplay pieces are 3D printed.
"It's a movement of personal manufacturing," Smalls said of 3D printing. "It's the movement where people can … essentially make a complete product in their house from start to finish, and I think that's the coolest thing about 3D printing."
Whether you are a newcomer to the realm of cosplay or you have been cosplaying for years, 3D printing has changed the game and continues to evolve with the increase in cosplay popularity. Your imagination is the only limitation of what 3D printed cosplay can be made. What are you going to create today?
Conflux Technology and GKN Additive have announced that they will collaborate on the development and production of 3D printed heat exchangers. One of the most indispensable industrial components for a multitude of critical sectors, heat exchangers are necessary to more or less any process involving heating and cooling. 3D printing's unique ability to create geometrically complex parts, which in this case can help optimize ventilation systems while also achieving reduced weights and faster lead times, has led to increasing interest in 3D printed metal heat exchangers in recent years.
Conflux's CEO and founder, Michael Fuller, founded the company in 2015 after a 15-year career as an engineer in F1 auto racing. Based in Australia, the firm is one of the pioneers in the field, having achieved its first patent for a heat exchanger produced with metal additive manufacturing (AM), the Conflux Core, in 2017. Also in 2017, German AM leader EOS — which makes the M 290 and the Aluminum AlSi10Mg used to print the Core — invested in Conflux via EOS's investment arm, AM Ventures. Along with Australian VC fund Acorn Capital, AM Ventures invested another $6.3 million dollars in Conflux last fall.
In a press release announcing the partnership, Fuller commented, "We're excited to be able to offer our customers access to GKN Additive's manufacturing services. Its capability to manufacture large volume orders in Europe is a perfect fit for our EU customers looking for serial production near point of use. Being able to provide our technology to their vast array of top tier and technologically advanced customers is already proving fruitful."
One such GKN customer is BMW, who just announced that the Industrialization and Digitalization for Additive Manufacturing (IDAM) resulted in two AM plants being set up and ready for business. Aside from the BMW AM Campus in Germany, the other plant is operated by GKN in Switzerland. It will be interesting to see if one of the components GKN ends up producing for BMW is a Conflux heat exchanger. In any case, the strong automotive experience of both companies clearly makes the partnership a logical fit.
Partners like GKN, which are parts of larger conglomerates, are going to be increasingly integral to the scaling up of AM sector startups like Conflux. And scale is probably the main thing the automotive industry brings to the table as a customer for the AM sector, which is what the automotive sector has always brought to the table on a macroeconomic level. This doesn't just mean the number of parts that are initially able to be 3D printed. Even more significantly, at what is still such an early phase in the industry's history, it means the size of the supply chains that AM is integrated into: the larger the overall market it gets a foothold in, the more long-term potential there is for the technology to grow into eventual use for mass production.
About 100 million automotive heat exchangers are produced each year, so, if even a small percentage of that market is replaced by 3D printing long-term, that would still constitute mass production for AM. Producing at that scale in this sector would reliably continue to lower costs and increase revenues for metal AM as a whole into the next decade, which is the type of development that will be needed for the industry in general to continue expanding into others areas that capitalize on the technology's potential.
