Sweden-based Sandvik has acquired a significant stake in Beam IT — a leading provider of additive-manufacturing (AM) services — for an undisclosed sum.

This will complement Sandvik’s existing offer in metal AM; it is also in line with Sandvik’s strategic ambition to become a leading provider of solutions for the wider component-manufacturing industry.

Beam IT is a privately owned company based in Italy, with more than 20 years of experience in metal additive manufacturing.

It supplies advanced metal AM components to demanding industries — including aerospace, automotive and energy — and it holds a number of quality certifications, including AS 9100 for aerospace and NADCAP approval.

In 2018, it had 38 employees and more than 20 powder-bed fusion printers installed.

Sandvik has a leading position in the production of metal powder for additive manufacturing; since 2013, it has made sizeable investments in a wide range of AM process technologies for metal components, including powder-bed fusion (laser and electron beam) and binder jetting.

Earlier this year, the company integrated the powder division with its AM division, so it now has one business offering the AM market everything from metal powder to finished AM components.

Kristian Egeberg, president of Sandvik Additive Manufacturing (www.additive.sandvik), said: “The AM sector is developing fast, and there is a need for AM-specialist partners with the advanced skills and resources required to help industrial customers develop and launch their AM programs.

"The investment in Beam IT gives our customers the opportunity to access the complementary and combined power of Sandvik and Beam IT.”

Mauro Antolotti, chairman and founder of Beam IT, said: “The demand for additively manufactured components is expected to grow rapidly during the coming years.

"In Sandvik, we have a very good owner who can help us accelerate our growth — and who can provide us with leading materials expertise, high-quality metal powder suited for all AM processes,and world-leading post-processing know-how.”