Autonomous Cluster Fund and Metalysis announce metal Additive Manufacturing partnership
May 26, 2017
Kazakhstan’s Autonomous Cluster Fund (Almaty Tech Garden) has signed an agreement with UK-based Metalysis to develop high-value metals and alloys for Additive Manufacturing. Under the agreement, the partners will reportedly conduct a development programme using Metalysis’ electrochemical process at its South Yorkshire Materials Discovery Centre, and support Kazakhstan’s developing metal Additive Manufacturing industry through additional efforts at Kazakhstan’s Park of Innovative Technologies – a science and technology complex aimed at diversifying national, economic and industrial development.
Company representatives and UK and Kazakh Government officials attended the signing ceremony, where Sanzhar Kettebekov, CEO of Kazakhstan’s Autonomous Cluster Fund, commented, “For the purposes of adhering to the priorities outlined in the President’s Address, we are working to grow new industries with the use of digital technologies. Our cooperation with Metalysis is aimed to develop Kazakhstan’s industry sector in the field of metal additives production. We are delighted to have established such a partnership, which will contribute to the diversification of the economy of Kazakhstan.”
Dr Malek Deifallah, Director of Business Development at Metalysis, added, “This is an exciting time for Metalysis. We are very pleased to partner with the Autonomous Cluster Fund, and together pursue the clear opportunities Kazakhstan presents for metal alloy powder production and Additive Manufacturing. We look forward to providing future updates as we go about applying our unique know-how and technology.”
The partners will reportedly use Metalysis’ electrochemical process to develop metals and bespoke alloy powders suitable for Additive Manufacturing, in an attempt to diversify the Republic of Kazakhstan’s economy. Initially, an R&D programme will be conducted at Metalysis’ new Materials Discovery Centre. Subject to its findings, the partners will then seek to develop Kazakhstan’s metal Additive Manufacturing industry, basing their efforts within the Autonomous Cluster Fund’s Park of Innovative Technologies; weighing opportunities for in-country production of metal alloy powders and printing commercial products using AM techniques.
According to the Fund, Kazakhstan is well placed to prosper from the development of in-country metal AM. Representatives state that the sector is a natural fit within a sustained development programme of economic and industrial frameworks, which can build on the country’s geological endowment and know-how in natural resource extraction.
