PROENERGY buys DMG Mori LASERTEC 125 machine as part of advanced manufacturing investment
August 9, 2022
PROENERGY, Sedalia, Missouri, USA, has announced that it is investing $28.8 million in an advanced manufacturing initiative, the first step of which is the company’s acquisition of a DMG Mori LASERTEC 125 Directed Energy Deposition (DED) hybrid Additive Manufacturing machine. As part of the company’s vertically integrated aero-derivative power services, PROENERGY is creating a supply of critical parts for LM6000 gas turbines.
The company’s advanced manufacturing initiative is expected to enable it to maintain reduced manufacturing and repair times. Jeff Canon, PROENERGY CEO, stated, “Independently fortifying our parts supply enables us to maintain our 120-day turnarounds for major overhauls, maintain world-class responsiveness, and progress the greater goal of global energy security. More importantly, these are critical steps in supporting renewable power generation and moving the energy transition forward.”
The DMG Mori LASERTEC 125 DED hybrid AM machine enables the Additive Manufacturing of industrial-scale parts of any complexity in a short amount of time. Utilisig additive and subtractive capabilities, the machine can build and machine new parts without pause. PROENERGY explains that while the DMG Mori hybrid machine can expedite the manufacturing of high-value parts, the primary value of the machine is vastly accelerated parts development and prototyping capabilities.
Rob Andrews, PROENERGY senior vice president – operations, commented, “Creating a variable bypass-valve door, for example, would take at least twelve months for a casting process; the PROENERGY advanced manufacturing process took less than ninety days. This machine is just the beginning of our initiative, which will also include a complete refit of one of our large campus buildings with a further sixteen advanced manufacturing devices. These steps will not only position PROENERGY as the top advanced manufacturing provider for any industry within Missouri, but likely in the Midwest.”
