Brose targets automotive parts with Farsoon metal AM machine
Brose, an automotive supplier headquartered in Coburg, Germany, is expanding its metal Additive Manufacturing capabilities with a new Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) machine, developed in collaboration with Farsoon Technologies, Changsha, China.
Brose stated it intends to transfer Additive Manufacturing processes more extensively into series production of components for the mobility sector.
The new machine is designed to increase output for industrial applications, offering an enlarged build volume and higher laser power to enable the production of larger components and higher quantities.
From a technical perspective, the larger build volume enables complex metal parts to be manufactured as a single piece. This approach eliminates the need for downstream joining operations, shortening process chains and reducing potential tolerance issues at joints. For smaller components, the available build area can be utilised in parallel, allowing multiple parts to be produced within a single build cycle. The increased laser power is also expected to improve productivity and cost efficiency compared to previous Additive Manufacturing approaches.
“We are consistently driving forward the additive series production of automotive components,” stated Eric Fritzsche, Head of Additive Manufacturing at Brose. “3D printing offers us an economical and flexible alternative to conventional processes, particularly for complex or highly varied components.”
“The close collaboration with Farsoon was characterised by goal orientation and speed,” he continued. “The project shows how partnership-based development work makes real innovation possible.”
Brose stated that the material used consists entirely of recycled stamping waste from its own stamping plants, with the resultant powder corresponding directly to the sheet metal in terms of chemical composition and mechanical properties. This approach closes the material loop and reduces the consumption of raw materials.
Oliver Huizhi Li, Managing Director of Farsoon Europe, stated, “Together with Brose, we have transformed innovation into real production efficiency – an excellent example of what a strong partnership and open technology can achieve.”
Brose also makes use of Additive Manufacturing technology in its product development. In rapid prototyping, original materials are used to achieve improved comparability with later series parts. The tool-free process reportedly facilitates design modifications, as adjustments can be implemented without the need for new or modified tooling.
