EOS and GKN Powder Metallurgy Team up to Make 3D Printed Parts for Automotive Sector

GKN Powder Metallurgy and additive manufacturing company EOS have teamed up for a venture that will deal with the production of 3 D printed parts for the automotive sector and to pioneer business-to-business industrial 3D printing on a large scale.

Germany is one country that has made remarkable headway when it comes to high-end metal additive manufacturing technology with many companies like EOS, Concept Laser and SLM Solutions emerging as key players in the European 3D printing market. It made sense for GKN to team up with EOS to get an edge when it comes to the fast-growing automotive additive manufacturing segment.

EOS is one of the world’s leading industrial additive manufacturing companies, and GKN recently teamed up with EOS to create a partnership in which both companies use their expertise in their respective fields to make an impact in the automotive industry. GKN has developed and implemented several new technologies including “digital factory” systems in the automotive sector, and also has experience in developing and producing advanced metal powder materials. EOS is a real innovator in the field of 3D printing industry, and has all the resources needed for industrial 3D printing, including a number of high-end DMLS 3D printers.

Speaking about the collaboration, Dr. Peter Oberparleiter, CEO of GKN Powder Metallurgy said that metal additive manufacturing offers tremendous scope to shape the future of industrial manufacturing and he expects the partnership to take this to a new level. The two companies will work together on expanding the areas of application with new materials by testing and eventually using them in series production.

Dr. Hans J. Langer, founder and CEO of EOS, added that the collaboration between GKN and EOS is another important step towards integrating industrial 3D printing into existing and future production lines and to leverage the benefits of AM technology for series production. He said that teaming up with GKN will give EOS access to the company’s global presence and its high-performance production for the automotive industry.

In order to mark the new partnership, GKN and EOS held an “AM Experience Day” at GKN’s Innovation Centre in Radevormwald, Germany at the end of 2016 and this drew significant interest from industry figures. Due to the success of the event, the two companies are planning to run eight more AM Experience Days in Europe and North America in the near future to showcase the technical and economic potential of industrial additive manufacturing, especially in the automotive industry, to potential customers.

GKN Powder Metallurgy comprises GKN Sinter Metals, a manufacturer of precision automotive components, and Hoeganaes, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of metal powder. The company’s parent group is GKN plc, which has two other subsidiaries named GKN Aerospace and GKN Driveline.

EOS appears to be concentrating on the automotive industry on multiple fronts. EOS had recently signed a deal with Audi AG based on which the company will provide training and equipment to the auto manufacturer.