MELD partners with Sumitomo to reach Additive Manufacturing market in Japan
October 12, 2023
MELD Manufacturing Corporation, based in Christiansburg, Virginia, USA, has established its first Japanese representative through a partnership with Sumitomo Corporation, Tokyo.
“Sumitomo Corporation, one of the most respected companies in Japan, is a trusted partner,” shared Nanci Hardwick, CEO of MELD Manufacturing. “Sumitomo’s extensive network and experience in bringing new technologies to market will be invaluable to us as we expand our presence in Japan. Together, we will implement the advantages of Additive Manufacturing for our customers in shipbuilding, aerospace, and defence.”
Under the partnership agreements, Sumitomo Corporation will be in charge of sales, marketing, and support for MELD Manufacturing’s products and services in Japan. This will mainly focus on industries that require large-scale parts.
This includes the installation of MELD AM machines, which have build volumes measured in meters. These machines utilise proprietary MELD® Additive Manufacturing technology based on a process similar to friction welding, and can be used for the building and repair of metal components using off-the-shelf solid-state materials or powder. The process is capable of additively manufacturing large metal parts due to the fact that it is an open-atmosphere process and is not sensitive to the operating environment or material surface condition.
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