UC Rusal and Sauer look to develop aluminium Additive Manufacturing technology
The Lasertech 65 3D combines metal powder laser deposition welding with a 5-axis milling machine
Russia’s UC Rusal, a leading aluminium producer, and Germany’s Sauer GmbH, a member of the global machine tool company DMG MORI, have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop Additive Manufacturing technology for products made of aluminium and aluminium alloys. The technology will be used to produce aluminium parts for customers in the machinery-producing, aerospace and automotive sectors.
As part of the arrangement, Rusal will develop aluminium alloys for conversion into powders, which will then be tested and qualified by Sauer equipment. The parties will also perform joint assessments of the quality of aluminium, aluminium alloys and powders produced for 3D printing. On its part, Sauer will provide the necessary equipment as well as supporting the setup of new production and promoting the products made using the new technology among its own customers.
The system deposits metal powder in a process said to be up to 10-times faster than powder bed methods
“The key benefit of 3D printing technology is its ability to make industrial parts of any shape and complexity that cannot be produced using conventional means. With this technology, we can produce unique prototypes over a very short period of time. Also, the technology is practically waste-free,” stated Alexey Arnautov, Rusal’s Director for New Projects.
“Rusal is very strong in R&D and manufacturing in aluminium powders, and by combining our efforts with DGM MORI, the largest manufacturer of hybrid 3D Additive Manufacturing machines in the world, to expand industrial use of the 3D technology, we hope to become a leading global player in this sector,” added Arnautov.
