Business

Additive manufacturing acquisitions: Prodways & Solidscape, ATI & Addaero

Industrial 3D printer provider Prodways has acquired Solidscape, a wax 3D printer subsidiary of Stratasys.

Rich Garrity, President of Stratasys Americas, comments, “As Stratasys moves strategically to more focus on specific vertical market, we believe that this acquisition is beneficial for all parties and we wish Prodways the best of luck in accelerating the growth of Solidscape and maintaining its position as a market leader in its core markets.”

In metals, specialty materials company Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI) has also acquired aerospace-certified additive manufacturing service provider Addaero, to bring new applications to its customers.

John Sims, Executive Vice President, High Performance Materials and Components Segment, ATI, comments, “We are excited to have Rich Merlino [President, Addaero] and the entire Addaero team join ATI. The complementary nature of our two businesses will allow for a seamless integration; creating a more capable end-to-end metallic powder component supplier to our key customers.”

Metal 3D printed sphere. Photo via Addaero
Metal 3D printed sphere. Photo via Addaero

Prodways acquires Solidscape with jewelry-making synergies

In a number of strategic moves of late, Prodways has been affirming its position as “trailblazers paving the way to innovation in French industry.”

Most recently, the group’s 3D printers were selected by Global energy management firm Schneider Electric, to work on a project to boost the turnaround of commercial electrical components.

In 2017, the company also closed a 75% stake in fellow French company Interson-Protac, that uses 3D printing to make custom hearing aids, and the complete acquisition of engineering firm AvenAo Industrie.

The company’s portfolio already includes a suite of industrial polymer and ceramic 3D printers, and Rapid Additive Forging (RAF) for metal parts. Synergies between Solidscape wax material 3D printers and Prodways MOVINGLight technology are particularly expected to impact the jewelry market.

On this latest deal Raphaël Gorgé, Chairman and CEO of Prodways Group, comments:

“The acquisition of Solidscape dovetails with Prodways Group’s overall strategy and is a unique opportunity to bolster its machine sales business and expand its portfolio of technologies, while gaining excellent geographic coverage and teams renowned for their expertise in additive manufacturing.”

Solidscape 3D printed “Drop of Freedom” ring design by Anna Popovych. Image via Solidscape.
Anna Popovych’s “Drop of Freedom” ring, joint winning entry for the Platinum Award for jewelry. Image via Solidscape.

ATI and Addaero take on aerospace and defense

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, ATI has meaning the alloy production business for over 20 years. By adding Addaero’s additive manufacturing expertise to it’s portfolio ATI will begin producing ready-to-install aerospace-grade components.

Additive manufacturing capabilities at Addaero, which was founded by former employees of Pratt & Whitney, include direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) provided by EOS machines, and electron beam melting (EBM) from Arcam EBM.

Rich Merlino, President, Addaero, comments, “The Addaero team is excited to be a part of ATI,”

“The combination of ATI and Addaero will increase the speed to market of new and innovative additively manufactured powder metal solutions for our aerospace and defense customers and beyond.”

Rich Harshman, Chairman, President and CEO, ATI, concludes:, “The acquisition of Addaero is another building block in our strategy to enhance ATI’s full specialty materials capabilities to provide end customers with finished products.”

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Featured image shows closeup of a Prodways 3D printer. Photo via Prodways