GE Additive’s Customer Experience Center is co-located with GE’s European Technology Center in Munich, Germany (Courtesy GE)

GE Additive has opened its first international Customer Experience Center in Munich, Germany. The 2,700 m² facility, co-located with GE’s European Technology Center, is designed to enable customers to accelerate their adoption of AM by learning about the entire Additive Manufacturing process, from design to prototyping to operations. The opening of the centre was attended by Mohammad Ehteshami, Vice President & General Manager of GE Additive, as well as figures from business, politics, technology and academia.

The centre was launched with an investment of $15 million and will employ up to fifty staff, including technicians and engineers specialising in additive design and production. Ten AM systems from Germany’s Concept Laser and Sweden’s Arcam EBM have been installed at the centre which also offers an educational facility for its Additive Academy – GE Additive’s customer training team.

The Customer Experience Center will provide GE Additive’s customers with

• Machine Access – Access to use the latest metal AM systems
• AddWorks – Collaboration with GE’s staff on product identification, design, material selection and additive facility setup
• Prototyping – The opportunity to build prototypes
• Low-rate initial production – The opportunity to build multiple parts and develop operations processes prior to full rate production
• Additive Academy – Training from the GE team of additive experts in all aspects of Additive Manufacturing
• Spare parts and powder – Access to GE’s team who can provide field service knowledge, spares and operational support to customers

Mohammad Ehteshami, Vice President & General Manager of GE Additive (centre), opened the new Customer Experience Center (Courtesy GE)

Over 150 guests came to Munich for the opening and got a chance to tour the facility after a ribbon cutting ceremony. Guests also heard from different speakers, including representatives from BMW and Oerlikon, on how they see the future of Additive Manufacturing.

“The opening of our Customer Experience Center here in Munich marks a great milestone for us,” stated Robert Griggs, Customer Success Leader at GE Additive. “Germany is the global innovation hub for Additive Manufacturing. Right here, at the heart of the additive revolution, the centre will operate as the interface between customers and our teams, combining the strengths of Germany’s Concept Laser and Sweden’s Arcam, both leading providers of additive machines and services. We look forward to working closely with European companies and institutes, allowing them to fully realise the transformative potential that additive design and manufacturing can bring. We’re excited about the types of products they will design and the improvements they can make to their operations using additive.”

The Munich centre is the first of GE Additive’s Customer Experience Centers outside of the US. Further GE Additive centres are planned worldwide to boost the use of Additive Manufacturing in different regions.

www.ge.com/additive