Beehive orders multiple Nikon NXG 600E large-format metal AM machines
Beehive Industries, Denver, Colorado, USA, has announced the purchase of multiple NXG 600E Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) Additive Manufacturing systems from Nikon SLM Solutions, Lübeck, Germany. The self-funded investment will expand Beehive’s large-format metal AM capacity in the US.
The NXG 600E, the largest machines manufactured by Nikon SLM Solutions, feature a build envelope of 600 x 600 x 1,500 mm and are equipped with twelve 1 kW lasers for high-throughput serial production of large metal components. One machine will be dedicated to processing Constellium’s Aheadd CP1 aluminium alloy, while the second will process Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy.
Beehive plans to use the machines to manufacture complete vehicle bodies, large satellite substructures and other large components for customers in the space and A&D sectors.
“There is a heavy overlap between the customers who rely on Beehive’s propulsion solutions and those who require advanced aerospace printed solutions,” stated Darius Ehteshami, Chief Operations and Finance Officer at Beehive Industries. “By investing proactively in these machines, Beehive is uniquely positioned to provide aerostructures and parts that enable our customers to fly higher and fly faster. This is Beehive doubling down on our history of large-format Additive Manufacturing, supporting our customers in both the A&D area and in space.”
“Manufacturers supporting today’s defence programmes require production technology that can scale quickly and reliably. Beehive Industries has built an impressive business around advanced propulsion and aerospace manufacturing, and we’re proud to support their continued growth with the NXG 600E platform,” stated Hamid Zarringhalam, CEO and General Manager of Nikon Advanced Manufacturing. “Our companies are deeply committed to enabling and scaling the defence industrial base, and this represents a key step in delivering the advanced manufacturing capabilities that are crucial to the United States and our allied partners.”
CP1 aluminium alloy and Ti-6Al-4V are widely used in defence, space and aerospace applications manufactured using Additive Manufacturing. According to the company, the new systems strengthen Beehive’s vertically integrated engineering, Additive Manufacturing and testing capabilities, providing domestic serial production capacity for mission-critical components.
Jonaaron Jones, President of Additive Parts Sales at Beehive Industries, stated, “This investment marks the natural evolution of our company, seamlessly carrying our legacy of large-format expertise forward into the next generation of manufacturing for our external parts customers across the space, defence, and aerostructures sectors.”
