Bionic and Leistritz Turbinentechnik partner on additively manufactured turbine components
July 18, 2017
Sven Nieper, Managing Director, Leistritz Turbinentechnik GmbH (right) and Klaus Mueller, CCO, Bionic Production AG (left) sign the letter of intent at the Paris Airshow (Courtesy Bionic)
German-based companies Bionic Production AG, Hamburg, and Leistritz Turbinentechnik GmbH, Remscheid, have entered into a strategic partnership for the manufacturing of turbine components. According to the companies, the goal of the partnership is to enable Leistritz to apply Additive Manufacturing technology to its processes and to open up new fields for both companies.
Because Additive Manufacturing allows the efficient production of very complex component geometries which may be difficult to produce using traditional manufacturing methods, such as casting and forging, Leistritz believes that it offers good potential for the manufacture of high quality, cost effective turbine components. The company stated that the collaboration and the support of Bionic will enable it to quickly develop the needed know-how to take advantage of AM’s benefits. Bionic Production in return expects to leverage its cooperation with Leistritz Turbinentechnik for the development of new markets.
The strategic partnership will include joint development activities to increase the manufacturing capacities of both partners, as well as joint marketing activities. Speaking on the decision to implement AM for turbine components, Klaus Mueller, CCO of Bionic Production, stated, “We used additive methods to jointly manufacture a very complex component and successfully carried out all required refinishing tasks and quality tests. This partnership offers us the opportunity to bundle our competencies and to jointly conquer new markets.”
“The advantages of the process became obvious right after we had produced the first components and we’ll identify additional potential as we go along,” added Hans-Christian Melzer, Director of Business Development at Leistritz Turbinentechnik. “We will be able to address a broader customer base and enhance our manufacturing and product spectrum. We will follow-up with this thoroughly.”
