Nikon SLM Solutions, a global provider of integrated metal additive manufacturing (AM) solutions, and the French aerospace company
ArianeGroup, have entered into a partnership to support the production of ultra-large-scale components (over 1m
3) using metal AM via powder bed fusion.
The companies say this collaboration marks a significant milestone for both businesses and ‘sets a new benchmark in the aerospace and defence sectors’. With this partnership, Nikon SLM Solutions will demonstrate the application of advanced additive manufacturing (AM) technology to highly complex, large-format components that meet stringent quality and productivity requirements.
Julien Frugier, Nikon SLM Solutions’ sales manager, said: “Ariane Group is a key global player in the space industry. Our collaboration with the company demonstrates the effectiveness of our technology and shows how Nikon SLM’s innovations can meet the demanding needs of strategic, high-tech customers. This partnership is a clear demonstration of how additive manufacturing continues to evolve as a foundational tool for the space industry. By minimising assembly needs and enabling lightweight, high-performance components, Nikon SLM Solutions’ technology provides ArianeGroup with new opportunities to enhance lead time and reduce costs on complex, ultra-large-scale hardware for liquid propulsion applications.”
ArianeGroup, which is equally owned by Airbus and Safran and has 8,300 employees in France and Germany, covers the full spectrum of civil and military launch systems, including design, development, manufacturing, integration, flight preparation, operational readiness and end-of-life decommissioning. It is also the lead contractor for the Ariane 6 European launcher for the European Space Agency (ESA).
Nikon SLM Solutions — headquartered in Germany, with offices in Canada, France, India, Italy, Singapore, South Korea, and the US — offers metal additive manufacturing machines with up to 12 lasers and build rates of up to 1,000cm
3/hr.