Titomic, the rights owner of the Titomic Kinetic Fusion (TKF) metal 3D printing process, has signed an agreement with FLSmidth. Headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, FLSmidth is a leading equipment supplier for the mining industry. It is looking to additive manufacturing to help reduce production downtime which can cost companies in the sector up to $3,000 p/hr.
“Titomic is proud to partner with FLSmidth, the global leader in sustainable productivity to the mining industry to deliver TKF additive manufactured parts with real economic value to mining operations,” comments Jeff Lang, Managing Director at Titomic.
“The mining industries equipment breakdowns are timely and expensive setbacks for operations and Titomic is well positioned, as the global leader in industrial scale metal additive manufacturing, to partner with FLSmidth to provide next generation technologies for improved commercial benefits of their customers.”
3D printing for the mining industry
As a cold-spray fabrication technique, TKF additive manufacturing has the ability to fuse multiple dissimilar metals together within a single part. With this ability, Titomic is capable of introducing different, high performance materials that would be otherwise impossible to make using other methods.
FLSmidth’s interest in the TKF process is particularly in the high-wear resistant combinations that can be achieved in parts. To start, the companies will undertake a production trial of such parts for mining equipment. Through prototyping, Titomic will then validate the components for the mining industry.
Once successfully completed, TKF pilot trials will be used by Titomic to negotiate a supply contract with FLSmidth. Orders for the company will be supplied by the TKF Melbourne Bureau.
Commercialization of TKF
TKF is patented by Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and Titomic is the exclusive holder of the rights to commercialize the process. On the road to commercial usage, the company has so far signed a $1.8 million deal with UAV manufacturer TAUV, and agreed to prototype screw extrusion systems for German international metal parts manufacturer C.A .PICARD.
The company recently entered Phase II of its agreement with TAUV. It has also licensed two new patents from CSIRO for the use of TKF to make pipes.
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Featured image shows a TKF 3D printer. Photo via Titomic
