Digital Metal Expands

Digital Metal, Höganäs, Sweden, a high-precision 3D metal printer provider, is expanding its Höganäs plant production area by 50 percent to support serial manufacturing of its DM P2500 and new components. Since launching in September 2017, demand also has resulted in the need to hire more engineers, technicians and sales employees, as well as investment in new-materials R&D.

“Thanks to the great interest, we now are starting serial production of our machines,” says Ralf Carlström, general manager at Digital Metal. “The first batch of machines will consist of six new printers containing the latest automation electronics. In addition, we have reduced the overall dimensions of the machine, making it more easily positioned at customer sites. Our existing machinery will be upgraded to the latest technology at the same time.”

With Digital Metal’s binder-jetting method, instead of melting components together with lasers, components are printed and sintered, which the company says provides better resolution and detail accuracy. In addition, production speed is higher than other 3D printing technologies.

The expansion will include a vacuum-extraction system and increased compression and cooling power, which will allow Digital Metal to double its sintering capacity; a separate room for quality control; and an isolated space for printing with materials that require special handling.