Kongsberg expands metal AM capacity for defence
Norway’s Kongsberg is collaborating with Germany’s EOS and its affiliate AMCM, suppliers of Additive Manufacturing technology, to expand the use of metal AM across its defence and security programmes. As part of the collaboration, Kongsberg has acquired two multi-laser metal AM machines from EOS and AMCM. The company states that the investment is intended to shorten innovation cycles, increase design freedom and production flexibility, and expand production capacity and capabilities.
The investment forms part of Kongsberg’s wider digital transformation strategy. By integrating AM into its product development and manufacturing processes, Kongsberg aims to make greater use of digital design and manufacturing, reduce constraints associated with traditional manufacturing and shorten product development timelines. The company states that producing hardware earlier in the design cycle will also increase its defence delivery capabilities.
“Additive Manufacturing is opening a whole new opportunity to challenge the traditional design and manufacturing process moving forward and represents a new way of thinking in design and manufacturing,” stated Sverre Ulland, SVP Strategic Production at Kongsberg’s Missiles & Aerostructures division. “As we implement the tools and the way of working in our organisation, the limiting factor will probably be the designer’s imagination and not the technology.”
Initially, Kongsberg plans to install two multi-laser AM machines from AMCM at its main production facility in Norway. The investment includes the AMCM M 4K, the AMCM M 290-2 1KW and associated equipment. The equipment will be used to produce full-scale sections for technology demonstrators, product qualifications and flyaway hardware.
EOS and AMCM will also support Kongsberg during the initial implementation phases, working with EOS’s Additive Minds consulting unit to integrate Additive Manufacturing into its design and production processes.
“Establishing Additive Manufacturing as a reliable and scalable production technology requires close collaboration across technology, application development and industrialisation,” said Markus Glasser, SVP EMEA at EOS. “Together with Kongsberg, we are building a long-term partnership that combines advanced AM technology with deep application expertise from our Additive Minds team to accelerate the adoption of Additive Manufacturing across their design and production processes.”
