BASF’s Forward AM opens new technology centre in Detroit

September 24, 2021

Forward AM opens a new Additive Manufacturing Applications Technology Center in Detroit, Michigan, USA, in cooperation with Michigan State University (Forward AM/BASF)

Forward AM, an Additive Manufacturing solutions brand of BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH, headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, has opened a new Additive Manufacturing Applications Technology Center (ATC) in Detroit, Michigan, USA, in cooperation with Michigan State University (MSU). This follows the opening of the company’s AMTC in Shanghai, China in August. The ATC will reportedly serve as the hub of expertise for solutions in the North American AM market.

The cooperation is said to combine the strengths of the company and the university in order to offer customers fully integrated AM solutions. Forward AM contributes with a wide range of high-performance Additive Manufacturing materials and rich engineering expertise, while MSU brings years of technical expertise and the motivation to be on the cutting edge of new ideas to support the next generations of AM services and design solutions.

“With this step we are significantly strengthening our offerings in North America,” stated François Minec, Managing Director BASF 3D Printing Solutions. “By collaborating with Michigan State University, we create a unique combination of science and industry expertise – ideal conditions to drive innovation in Additive Manufacturing together with our customers.”

Through the ATC, new value-adding technical services are available to customers, such predictive modelling, increasing innovation potential with customers across North America. Forward AM has installed more than twenty AM machines of various AM technologies such as Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) and Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) at the ATC.

The cooperation between Forward AM and MSU is complemented with an investment by BASF Corporation in the Scale-up Research Facility (SuRF) space. This investment is said to be strengthening BASF’s strategy in Additive Manufacturing and its pursuit toward more sustainable industrial solutions. The ATC is expected to enable shared resources that combine education and industry to drive the industrialisation of AM in the Americas.

Doug Gage, vice president for Research, and Innovation Michigan State University, commented, “MSU is committed to strong industry partnerships as an engine to drive innovation, economic opportunities, and skills development that meet emerging technology needs. The Scale-up Research Facility (SuRF) in Detroit, established with funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Department of Energy through the Institute for Advanced Composite Manufacturing Innovation, is a prime example of the effectiveness of place-based innovation.”

He added, “BASF has been among MSU’s strongest partners at the SuRF, and we are extremely pleased to expand our relationship to assist in establishing the BASF Applications Technology Center within the SuRF space. We are confident this collaboration will result in significant advances in Additive Manufacturing, new workforce development opportunities, and sustainable economic growth.”

www.forward-am.com

www.msu.edu

About Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine

Metal AM magazine, published quarterly in digital and print formats, is read by a rapidly expanding international audience.

Our audience includes component manufacturers, end-users, materials and equipment suppliers, analysts, researchers and more.

In addition to providing extensive industry news coverage, Metal AM magazine is known for exclusive, in-depth articles and technical reports.

Our focus is the entire metal AM process from design to application.

Each issue is available as an easy-to-navigate digital edition and a high-quality print publication.

In the latest issue of Metal AM magazine

Download PDF
 

Extensive AM industry news coverage, as well as the following exclusive deep-dive articles:

  • Fly-by-wire: How Additive Manufacturing took to the skies with Norsk Titanium
  • Dynamic beam shaping: Unlocking productivity for cost-effective Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion
  • Enabling the fusion energy revolution: Mastering tungsten with PBF-EB Additive Manufacturing
  • Patents and Additive Manufacturing: What insights can mining PBF-EB data reveal about the industry and the technology?
  • Additive Manufacturing for Semiconductor Capital Equipment: Unlocking critical supply chains
  • Can Additive Manufacturing lower the carbon footprint of parts for the energy and maritime industries?
  • Inspect Additive Manufacturing, stop monitoring: Phase3D’s unit-based, in-process inspection solution for powder bed AM

The world of metal AM to your inbox

Don't miss any new issue of Metal AM magazine, and get the latest industry news. Sign up to our twice weekly newsletter.

Sign up

Looking for AM machines, metal powders or part manufacturing services?

Discover suppliers of these and more in our comprehensive advertisers’ index and buyer’s guide, available in the back of Metal AM magazine.

  • AM machines
  • Process monitoring & calibration
  • Heat treatment & sintering
  • HIP systems & services
  • Pre- & post-processing technology
  • Powders, powder production and analysis
  • Part manufacturers
  • Consulting, training & market data
View online

Discover our magazine archive…

The free to access Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine archive offers unparalleled insight into the world of metal Additive Manufacturing from a commercial and technological perspective through:

  • Reports on visits to leading metal AM part manufacturers and industry suppliers
  • Articles on technology and application trends
  • Information on materials developments
  • Reviews of key technical presentations from the international conference circuit
  • International industry news

All past issues are available to download as free PDFs or view in your browser.

Browse the archive

Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap