SLM Solutions made an interesting move this past week, acquiring a very large system for their equipment catalog.
They explained:
“Within the ultra large format segment, SLM Solutions is thrilled to announce that it will add the Adira AddCreative technology to its portfolio. This not only strengthens SLM’s product portfolio but is yet another commitment to leading the additive manufacturing industry into the future.”
What is the Adira AddCreative system? Well, for starters is large. Very large — see the image at top for reference. You literally need steps and a platform to see inside the machine.
The AddCreator is an LPBF metal 3D printer, similar to those made by SLM Solutions, and offers a massive 1000 x 1000 x 500 mm build volume.
It’s produced by Portugal-based Adira, a large engineering company offering a wide range of heavy making equipment, one of which happens to be the AddCreator AM LPBF platform.
It seems that they are divesting themselves of this line of business, and SLM Solutions is taking it over going forward.
SLM Solutions said the AddCreator will slide into their product family easily. It’s larger in build volume than SLM Solutions’ behemoth NXG XII 600 system, but smaller than the company’s future large scale system. That system, which we’ve yet to see, will offer build volumes of up to 3000 x 1200 x 1200 mm.
The CEO of SLM Solutions, Sam O’Leary explained:
“Integrating this advanced technology into our portfolio helps complete our offering, bridging the gap between our current systems and our future large-scale AM system. It is another testament to our relentless innovation aimed at overcoming our customers’ manufacturing challenges and altering the manufacturing landscape forever.”
It seems that the AddCreative team from Adira that designed the technology will continue doing so, although now under the SLM Solutions banner.
When all of this is examined from a strategic point of view, it’s clear that SLM Solutions has targeted the large-scale metal additive manufacturing market. They’ve announced — or acquired — a series of product of increasing build volumes that should, eventually, address virtually all needs for large scale metal additive production.
SLM Solutions can likely make more progress with this technology than Adira, as SLM Solutions has developed a market of large additive manufacturers for which this technology is targeted.
This seems like a great deal for both parties.
Via SLM Solutions
