Sandvik, BEAMIT make important advances in AM

Sandvik and BEAMIT have made several important advances in metal additive manufacturing (AM) over the last six months. Most recently the BEAMIT Group acquired ZARE, meaning that two leading additive manufacturing service bureaus in Europe join forces to become one of the largest independent AM service providers, serving the most demanding industries.

In July 2019, Sandvik acquired a significant stake in leading European-based AM service provider BEAMIT, with the right to further increase its stake over time. BEAMIT is a trusted supplier of advanced metal AM-components to demanding industries, including aerospace, space, automotive and energy – with a number of relevant quality certifications, such as AS9100 for aerospace and heat treatments NADCAP approval. The company complements Sandvik’s additive manufacturing offering, which includes the widest range of metal powders for AM and leading expertise across the entire AM value chain.

“In September 2020, Sandvik and BEAMIT took another important step forward when the BEAMIT Group acquired 100% of ZARE. This brings together two leading additive manufacturing service bureaus in Europe, to create one of the largest independent AM service providers – serving the most demanding industries,” says Kristian Egeberg, President of Sandvik Additive Manufacturing.

ZARE, founded in 1963, has progressively grown into a leading, integrated additive manufacturing service bureau – focusing on high-end components for demanding industries like aerospace, automotive, motorsport and energy – offering a full range of advanced AM services. The company has around 50 employees, a wide range of metal and polymer printers, as well as CNC machines for post-processing operations – and relevant quality certifications.

CREATING A LEADING AM SERVICE PROVIDER WITH MORE THAN 100 EMPLOYEES
The merger of BEAMIT and ZARE has created an AM-organization with more than 100 employees based at five facilities, all located within a 40 km area between Parma and Reggio Emilia in Italy. The new Group also has four commercial offices in France, Germany, the UK and Japan.

BEAMIT and ZARE will continue to operate under their respective brand names, but activities will be consolidated under the BEAMIT Group. Together the service offering encompasses a range of materials, different AM process technologies, post processing methods and critical quality certifications aligned to demanding industries like aerospace, defense and energy.

BEAMIT’s acquisition of ZARE follows their recent investment in PRES-X, which specializes in AM post-processing. PRES-X is the first company in Europe with the capability to perform high pressure heat treatments on 3D printed production parts, along with other advanced post processing methods like roughness surface smoothening preparation on external and internal surfaces and depowdering.

Mauro Antolotti, the founder and Chairman of BEAMIT, says: “The extended organization, including ZARE and PRES-X, is created to serve our customers with a true 360-degree service span. It also contributes with greater capacity and financial strength, while securing total reliability for current and new AM-customers. Adding Sandvik’s world-leading materials expertise, we can really change the game together in this high-growth area.”

Andrea Pasquali, General Manager of ZARE, says: “We are impressed by the synergies offered by the BEAMIT Group and Sandvik. Integrated additive manufacturing, from metal powder to high-end components, is finally concrete. We are writing history.”


NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART POWDER PLANT FOR TITANIUM AND NICKEL-BASED SUPER ALLOYS
In parallel with the activities within the BEAMIT Group, Sandvik has recently commercialized a new state-of-the-art powder plant for Osprey® titanium- and nickel-based super alloys, which means that the company offers the widest range of AM alloys on the market. The new plant already received the prestigious ‘AS9100 Revision D’ certification for deliveries to the aerospace industry – as well as the ‘ISO 13485:2016’ certification for deliveries to the medical segment. Sandvik’s powder production facilities in Neath, UK, have also recently been awarded the ‘AS9100D’ certification for aerospace.

Kristian Egeberg, President of Sandvik Additive Manufacturing, says: “The AM sector is developing fast and there is a need for AM-specialist partners with the advanced skills and resources required to help industrial customers develop and launch their AM programs. The new AM-constellation consisting of Sandvik and the BEAMIT Group is extremely strong – and will provide our customers with the opportunity to access the complementary and combined power of several leading players, covering the entire AM value chain.”