US-based Carpenter Technology Corporation has acquired LPW Technology Ltd — a leader in the development and supply of advanced metal powders and powder lifecycle management solutions — for about $81 million.

LPW is a UK company based in Cheshire, with additional processing operations near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Tony Thene, Carpenter’s CEO (www.cartech.com), said: “Our aggressive development in key aspects of additive manufacturing (AM) demonstrates our commitment to build on our industry-leading position in this area.

The acquisition combines LPW’s metal powder lifecycle management technology and processes with our technical expertise in producing highly engineered metal powders and additively manufactured components.”

Lifecycle management technology is becoming increasingly important to understanding how materials behave before, during and after production in the powder-bed fusion process.

Understanding powder behaviour is critical, as AM becomes more widely adopted across various industries.

Phil Carroll, LPW’s (www.lptechnology.com) founder, said: “LPW’s innovative platforms and enabling technology further solidify Carpenter’s position as a preferred provider of end-to-end next-generation additive-manufacturing solutions.

“I’m excited to be part of Carpenter’s continued growth and leadership in AM.”