Schaeffler acquires Belgium-based Aerosint from Desktop Metal
Schaeffler AGThe German motion technology company has announced that it has acquired Aerosint You can also find out more about us on our website. Desktop Metal. Both companies agreed that the transaction details would not be disclosed. Schaeffler and Desktop Metal have also formed a partnership focusing on the 3D printing multi-material powders including metals and Ceramics.
The company’s name will change to Schaeffler Aerosint SA, and integrated into the Schaeffler Group as an additional location for Schaeffler Special Machinery, the Schaeffler Group’s special machine construction unit.
Andreas Schick, Chief Operating Officer at Schaeffler AG said: “Schaeffler Aerosint SA offers the first industrial solution for simultaneous, metallic multi-material printing. Our expertise in combination with our industrialisation skills and years of experience in innovative production techniques will give us an important market advantage. The acquisition is an important milestone in the industrial use of metal-based additive manufacturing processes in the area of Industry 4.0.”
“Schaeffler is one of the leading global manufacturers of components and systems as well as bearing solutions. The motion technology company has a longstanding excellence in precision mechanical engineering and an innovative mindset open to integrate new production processes like metal multi-material printing,” said Ric Fulop, Founder and CEO of Desktop Metal.
Fulop continued: “We’re excited to collaborate with the experienced team on next-generation multi-material additive manufacturing. Aerosint’s Selective Powder Deposition (SPD) technology has demonstrated spectacular potential for laser applications, and we both agree that Schaeffler has a nearer-term roadmap for commercialising it with laser-based systems than our binder jetting technology. We will retain an option to commercialise the technology with our systems in the future, and we look forward to developing this roadmap together.”
Bernd Wollenick, Senior Vice President Schaeffler Special Machinery said: “By integrating this key future technology, Schaeffler Special Machinery, as a partner for production excellence, will be able to offer its customers a more diversified portfolio of systems, particularly for the manufacturing and medical technology sectors.”