Industrial 3D printer manufacturer ExOne (XONE) has just announced the acquisition of two operations to expand its post-print processing abilities. The company, known for its large sand and metal 3D printers, acquired the German MWT – Gesellschaft fur Industrielle Mikrowellentechnik mbH (MWT), for its production of industrial grade microwaves, and the Michigan-based Machin-A-Mation, for its machining capabilities, for a total of almost $10 million.
President and COO of ExOne, David Burns, explains, “We believe that vertically integrating the processes surrounding additive manufacturing will help to accelerate the adoption cycle for 3D printing in the industrial market place. These acquisitions represent critical post-print processes that are components of the 3D printing value chain.”
MWT is a producer of microwaves made to thermally process sand molds and cores that are 3D printed using binders, including binders that require a drying process. Their microwave technology is said to improve casting quality and reduce production costs for metal components, such as magnesium parts for aerospace and steel alloys for hydraulic parts. Purchased for $4.8 million, MWT will improve ExOne’s sand core production systems and will be integrated into the 3DP manufacturer’s Augsburg, Germany operations.
Machin-A-Mation, acquired for $5 million, is a specialty machine shop in Chesterfield, Michigan that will aid in ExOne’s ExCast strategy, developed to tackle additive manufacturing from the design to the completion of complex parts for the company’s industry customers. The acquired shop will remain in Michigan, located near to ExOne’s ProMetal RTC in Troy, Michigan, which focuses on 3D-printed cores and molds for aerospace and shipbuilding. ExOne will also maintain and expand Machin-A-Mation’s existing industrial customer base.
Burns elaborated on the acquisitions, saying, “In the manufacture of precision parts, there are several steps to completion. Machin-A-Mation’s specialty precision machining expertise helps us address the finishing requirements for complex parts which are cast from our 3D printed sand molds. The addition of the capabilities of both MWT and Machin-A-Mation enable us to better satisfy the needs of our growing industrial customer base in a more comprehensive manner.”
Source: Yahoo! Finance
