EOS Joins Force with Williams F1 Team for AM Technologies

EOS, a leading additive manufacturing system manufacturer, has entered into a three-year technical deal with Williams Advanced Engineering and Williams Grand Prix Engineering. The collaboration is aimed at providing Williams with insights into the new AM technologies supplied by EOS to complement their existing production processes and to support their own AM development project. At the same time, both companies will also showcase AM in the F1 world.

As part of the deal, Williams has just installed an EOSINT P 760, a modular plastic AM system with a building volume of 700 mm x 380 mm x 580 mm that offers extended productivity and increased part sizes when producing polymer parts.

Williams already has two polymer EOS systems. The company employs standard production materials such as Carbonmide and Alumide from EOS. The former is used for production parts on F1 cars in conjunction with carbon composite laminates where increased strength is needed, while the latter creates stable parts for functional testing, ranging from engine ancillaries and full gearbox assemblies for mock-ups to jigs and fixtures for laminate production.

Commenting on the collaboration, Stuart Jackson, EOS UK region manager, said that it would enable EOS and Williams to mutually expose chosen customers to the F1 world with the goal of illustrating the use of AM in this technically-advanced industry. he explained that through its Williams Advanced engineering business, Williams offers technical innovation that transfers F1 technology solutions focusing on sustainability and energy efficiency to leading industries such as motorsport, automotive, transport, energy and other sectors. “As such, the partnership is a perfect fit for us as we truly believe that all parties involved will benefit highly from this interchange of ideas.”

According to Brian Campbell, Production Manager, Composites and ADM at Williams, Williams is a racing team but comes with a number of facets to its business in which opportunities for AM applications reside. He noted that EOS could help them turn these opportunities into performance, adding that the collaboration also holds multiple synergies, as both companies are family-owned and independent driven by guiding principles such as excellence, teamwork and innovation.