Siemens acquires majority stake in Materials Solutions
Materials Solutions manufactures Siemens burner heads
Siemens has acquired a majority stake in Materials Solutions Ltd., a specialist metal Additive Manufacturing parts maker based in Worcester, UK. Siemens now holds 85% of the shares, with the remaining 15% held by the founder of the company, Carl Brancher. The move follows the announcement in August 2015 that Siemens Venture Capital acquired a minority stake (14%) in the company. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
“With the acquisition of Materials Solutions, we are able to secure world-leading expertise in materials and AM process development with focus on high-temperature superalloys. The company’s strength is to turn models into high quality components in record time. Clearly Materials Solutions fits perfectly within our vision for growth and application of advanced technologies within our Power & Gas portfolio,” stated Willi Meixner, CEO of Siemens Power and Gas Division.
“We are very proud to become a part of Siemens,” stated Carl Brancher, CEO of Materials Solutions. “I am sure our know-how and experience will make a significant contribution to Siemens’ Additive Manufacturing strategy. Materials Solutions is developing the applications know-how and a supply chain for the world’s most advanced engineering companies – delivering processes and precision parts from 3D CAD models, using software, lasers and metal powders,” added Brancher.
A specialty of Materials Solutions is making turbomachinery parts, particularly high temperature applications for gas turbines where accuracy, surface finish and the highest quality of the materials is critical to ensure operational performance of the parts in service.
Siemens extensively uses AM technology for rapid prototyping and has introduced serial production solutions for rapid manufacturing of small fuel mixers and for rapid repair of burner tips for mid-size gas turbines. Siemens in Finspång, Sweden, began using Additive Manufacturing technology in 2009 and opened a production facility for metal 3D printed components in February 2016. This investment was the first step in the company’s plans for mass manufacture and repair of metal parts with Additive Manufacturing. The first 3D printed burner component for a Siemens heavy-duty gas turbine is in successful commercial operation in a power plant in Brno, Czech Republic.
