Oerlikon installs XJet’s new AM production system at citim’s Barleben facility

XJet’s Carmel 1400 AM system

XJet Ltd., based in Rehovot, Israel, has announced first international installation of its XJet Carmel 1400 Additive Manufacturing system at citim in Barleben, Germany. citim is part of the Oerlikon Group and a leading international AM service provider. With XJet’s Carmel 1400 AM system, Oerlikon has become the first company worldwide to premier this new inkjet-based technology for the additive production of ceramic parts.

The XJet Carmel 1400, featuring the company’s patented NanoParticle Jetting^TM (NPJ) technology, is unique in the metal and ceramic AM industries thanks to its ability to print separate nanoparticle ‘inks’ or fluids for the build and support material. This enables ceramic or metal parts to be produced with the ease and versatility that one associates with inkjet printing. The XJet Carmel 1400 AM prints very fine layers that are only a few microns thick. As a result, the technology allows complex geometries with superfine details from as little as 0.1 mm to be created in a simple and very safe process. As its name suggest, the XJet Carmel 1400 features a 1,400 cm² build tray, which is one of the industry’s largest and is able to handle high-capacity production. The XJet Carmel 1400 is highly suitable for a wide range of AM applications in diverse industries, from healthcare to manufacturing.

Oerlikon’s AM part production site in Barleben will now commence with field testing using the XJet system. Initially, the AM system is configured to manufacture ceramic parts from zirconia. At a later stage, the system can also be used to manufacture metal components that require fine details.

“The cooperation with XJet is an exciting opportunity for us to expand our AM offering beyond metals and into ceramics,” said Andreas Berkau, Head of AM Service Europe, Oerlikon Business Unit (BU) AM. “With over 20 years in the industry, citim has established itself as a leading international supplier of AM parts that meets evolving industry needs and remains at the forefront of AM technology. This collaboration enables us to stay ahead of technology developments and maintain our technology leadership.”

“We are proud to team up with Oerlikon, a global technology Group and one of the world’s leading AM service providers,” said Hanan Gothait, CEO and Founder of XJet. “Working together, Oerlikon and XJet are taking a lead in the AM revolution, empowered by our game-changing NPJ technology for metal and ceramic AM.”

A ceramic part manufactured using XJet’s Carmel 1400 AM system

“This collaboration with XJet is a natural extension of Oerlikon’s AM vision and further strengthens our technology offering and leadership position in the field of AM,” commented Florian Mauerer, Head of Oerlikon BU AM. “We are pleased to be partnering with the XJet team, which is comprised of top veterans in the global AM industry. We look forward to a meaningful partnership in order to provide the best possible AM solutions along the entire value chain to customers in diverse manufacturing industries.”

Oerlikon and XJet are exhibiting at formnext 2017, the leading trade fair for Additive Manufacturing, which will take place in Frankfurt Germany from November 14 to 17, 2017. Oerlikon will showcase XJet-printed parts and its end-to-end services at booth E30 in Hall 3.1. XJet will host formnext visitors directly next to Oerlikon at booth E20 in Hall 3.1. Dror Danai, XJet’s Chief Business Officer, will also be presenting their NPJ technology for metal and ceramic AM on Tuesday, November 14 at 1:30 pm at the TCT Introducing Stand.

www.oerlikon.com/am | www.xjet3d.com