Oerlikon Expands AM Business in U.S.

Oerlikon (Pfäffikon, Switzerland) expects demand for additively manufactured (AM) metal components to increase rapidly in the coming years and projects this business to be one of the key growth areas in next generation manufacturing technologies. AM is a technology that allows for the customization of products, the decentralization of production, change in design methodology and efficiency in material usage. As the process becomes increasingly suitable for the series production of advanced components, its transformational impact is likely to redefine some of the more conventional manufacturing value chains.

Following the acquisition of AM producer citim GmbH (Barleben, Germany), Oerlikon is now extending their AM competence by investing in the construction of a new facility in Charlotte, NC. This investment is an important step in lowering their barriers to wider adoption of AM by industrial customers who will be able leverage their AM capabilities, which range from the atomization of metal powders to AM production and the post processing of components. The addition of the new site in Charlotte brings their AM network to four locations globally. This new site complements citim sites in Barleben and in Atlanta, GA, and the new production facility for advanced metal powders for additive manufacturing and advanced coatings in Plymouth Township, MI.

The Charlotte facility will offer U.S. industrial customers a single source for a full suite of integrated services for end-to-end advanced component manufacturing – from research and development, design, applications engineering and series production to post processing. The region is home to a rapidly growing number of global industrial, aerospace, and automotive firms. The company will begin AM business activities in Charlotte in 2017 at an interim facility. The new site will be fully operational in 2018.

“Innovation is a strategic driver of growth for us. We consistently work at strengthening our innovation power and staying at the forefront in developing new technologies in our fields. As we strategically transform to become a powerhouse in surface solutions and advanced materials, we are investing in high growth potential businesses such as AM,” said Dr. Roland Fischer, the chief executive officer of the Oerlikon Group. “Charlotte is an important step in our plans to grow our AM business and our investment in key technology areas. This investment underlines our intention to become a leading independent global partner in the industrialization of AM. I would like to thank our economic development partners in North Carolina and the Charlotte region for their support in our investment.

Oerlikon will invest over $54,600,000 million in this facility in 2017 and 2018, and expects to create over 100 new jobs at this site over the longer term.

www.oerlikon.com