Nikon Corp and
Nikon Advanced Manufacturing Inc — the global headquarters of the Advanced Manufacturing business unit located in California (USA) — have officially inaugurated the Nikon AM Technology Centre in Long Beach, California. A 90,000ft
2 facility, it marks the next step in the ‘Nikon Vision 2030 ’plan, which aims to ‘revolutionise manufacturing and establish digital manufacturing (DM) as a growth pillar for Nikon’. Strategically located to serve aviation, aerospace, and defence customers, the facility is already operational.
The Centre houses Nikon AM Synergy Inc, the rebranded and reorganised former Morf3D Inc. It will work in synergy with the upcoming Nikon SLM Solutions Studios, and Nikon Research and Development. The latter will focus on developing proprietary Nikon technologies, including directed energy deposition (DED) solutions, as well as ‘engineering innovations, demonstrations, and next-generation system development’. The facility is also equipped with leading-edge metallurgy and metrology capabilities.
The Nikon AM Technology Centre, which is structured to offer ‘a holistic and customer-centric approach’, also provides comprehensive Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) services, engineering and manufacturing solutions, as well as prototyping and production capabilities. Core principles of the Centre include collaboration, partnership, and flexibility, with production capabilities available both on-site and at customer locations, including contract manufacturers, as Nikon is ‘actively engaged in supporting and partnering with such enterprises.
The new centre will feature large and ultra-large format laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) tools from Nikon SLM Solutions AG, and high-precision Nikon directed energy deposition (DED) equipment capable of handling a broad range of ‘innovative and widely used alloys’.
Hamid Zarringhalam, Nikon Advanced Manufacturing’s CEO, said: “In under a year, we have made significant strides toward revolutionising the manufacturing landscape. Our global organisation’s concerted efforts, coupled with the trust and support of our partners and customers, enable us to harness our deep expertise and new acquisitions, with the values that Nikon is renowned for globally.”