AddLab to become K3D-AddFab as it scales for industrial Additive Manufacturing
April 11, 2019
From left to right: Hans Reutelingsperger (NTS), Paul Neggers (NTS), Jaap Bulsink (K3D), John Hagelaars (Machinefabriek de Valk), Edward Voncken (KMWE), Luuk Wissink (K3D), Jan-Cees Santema (Additive Industries), Ilko Bosman (Additive Industries) and Daan Kersten (Additive Industries) (Courtesy Additive Industries B.V.)
AddLab, an open innovation centre for metal Additive Manufacturing launched in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, in 2013, has been renamed K3D-AddFab as it scales for industrial AM. The facility is jointly operated by partners KMWE, NTS-Group, Machinefabriek De Valk and K3D, who stated that they will scale the shared facility for the series production of AM components for high-tech equipment and aerospace.
As well as K3D-AddLab, K3D operates a Printing Technology Center (PTC) in Terborg, the Netherlands, and has reportedly produced over 45,000 metal additively manufactured parts at the PTC using a MetalFAB1 system from Additive Industries. Additive Industries will also provide process and application development support at K3D-AddLab, with a MetalFAB1 system set to be installed at the centre’s new facility on Brainport Industries Campus, Eindhoven.
“We are proud to be able to take our unique collaboration in industrial Additive Manufacturing to the next phase and scale for series production of high-tech equipment parts and aerospace components. The K3D-AddFab team will be integral part of the K3D network of 3D Printing Centers allowing for load balancing, volume sharing and materials pooling,” stated Luuk Wissink, CEO of K3D.
“Within K3D-AddFab we will jointly work on our development projects for the high-tech industry and aerospace customers like Airbus. The co-location on BIC allows us to combine additive technologies with our core-business in subtractive processes like milling and turning,” added Edward Voncken, CEO of KMWE and Chairman of Brainport Industries.
Jan-Cees Santema, Sales Director Europe of Additive Industries, commented, “For us K3D-AddFab will be the testbed for distributed manufacturing in demanding markets as well as an extra training and demonstration centre around the corner from our headquarters. In a close partnership we will be able to accelerate learning that started when we opened AddLab almost six years ago.”
