Kanthal and Swerim invest in atomising equipment for PM, AM and HIP applications
March 10, 2021
Swedish heating technology company Kanthal, part of the Sandvik Group, and metals research institute Swerim, Luleå, Sweden, is to invest €2 million in ultra-modern atomising equipment designed for research and development of both materials and the atomising process.
The new equipment will allow the atomising of powder batches up to approximately 85 kg, both for Additive Manufacturing and Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) applications. It will be installed in Swerim’s site in Kista, outside of Stockholm and is expected to be operational by Q4 2021.
The joint investment lays the foundations for a long-term partnership in which Kanthal receives access to Swerim’s sixty years of experience in Powder Metallurgy, metal AM, advanced structural analysis, testing and modelling.
“The investment will enable unique possibilities for us to develop materials for AM and to get new products out on the market, faster,” stated Dilip Chandrasekaran, Head of R&D at Kanthal. “The cooperation with Swerim will also allow for world-class research within this field which is strategic both for Kanthal and for Sweden.”
Jesper Vang, research leader in AM and Powder Metallurgy at Swerim, commented, “Sweden is world-leading in the area of powder metals thanks to our long experience of in-depth research and continuous development of materials, processes and products.”
“The investment is a direct result of increased demand for research possibilities,” added Vang. “To keep the leading position, Swedish companies have to be in the forefront when it comes to development of new materials and technologies.”
