SSAB brings metal Additive Manufacturing in-house with LaserTool partnership
Swedish steel company SSAB has announced that it is introducing metal Additive Manufacturing at sites in Borlänge, Sweden, and Raahe, Finland, in collaboration with LaserTool, based in Olofström, Sweden.
“SSAB has a legacy of not settling ‘good’ – we always aim to be greater,” stated Jesper Vang, Head of Powder Technology at SSAB. “Working with innovative partners like LaserTool allows us to challenge how the market looks today. By using high-performance AM steel powder, we unlock design possibilities that were impossible yesterday.”
Before adopting AM, SSAB reported problems replacing worn or obsolete components: OEM parts were inconsistent in quality, had long lead times, and were costly, reducing productivity. To address this, LaserTool and SSAB reverse-engineered and planned parts using Design for Additive Manufacturing principles and taking into account laser hardening after the build process.
Unlike traditional parts, SSAB would source newly additively manufactured components developed and customised for their intended use.
“The biggest challenge with metal 3D printing is that many parts are designed for traditional manufacturing,” stated Martin Nilsson, CEO of LaserTool. “You have to rethink the process: print only what’s needed and optimise for performance. With laser hardening, we can choose exactly where a part should be harder, and we get minimal distortion.”
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According to SSAB, redesigning and additively manufacturing replacement parts has increased their service life by more than 300%. SSAB also reported improved wear resistance, alongside reductions in lead times, costs and material waste.
By integrating Additive Manufacturing into SSAB’s own supply chain, the company can leverage on-demand manufacturing, reducing the need for large inventories and long distance transport.
“The component we made for SSAB has triple the lifetime compared to the original,” explained Nilsson. “It’s more durable, more efficient to produce, and directly supports SSAB’s sustainability goals.”
Jesper Vang added, “From automotive to industrial use, from new components to repairs – Additive Manufacturing strengthens both performance and sustainability. It’s a step toward a more efficient and resilient supply chain.”
