Rusal establishes complete AM cycle at new facility

January 7, 2021

Rusal, Moscow, Russia, has established a complete, closed Additive Manufacturing cycle at the Institute of Light Materials and Technologies (ILM&T). Rusal, a global aluminium producer, founded ILM&T in 2017 with the primary objective being the development, innovation and launch of new varieties of aluminium-based products and materials into the market. Thus far, €3.5 million has been invested by the company into resources and facility development at the Additive Technology Centre.

The opening of an Additive Manufacturing site and the installation of new equipment, including an atomiser and a powder sizing and packaging line, has made it possible for Rusal to launch the complete production cycle, from powder production to part finishing, at its own R&D centre.

With this new site, ILM&T will be primed to develop unique, high-strength and heat-resistant aluminium-based materials specifically designed for AM, providing a range of turnkey services for Rusal customers. These services range from material creation and Additive Manufacturing technology to engineering and optimising parts for AM technologies. The new equipment also allows for the production of a significant variety of materials, due to its quick changeover capacity.

At present, a promising focus area of work at the ILM&T is the creation of a heat-resistant aluminium alloy, adapted for AM, that will be able to perform at temperatures of up to 400°C. In 2019, the ILM&T launched a new range of unique aluminium alloys for AM, which have since been adopted in the fields of medicine, mechanical engineering and the space industry.

“In just three years at the ILM&T, we have managed to not only form a team of highly-skilled industry-leading professionals but also to provide all the necessary resources and facilities to enable the rendering of a full range of services from research to engineering,” stated Victor Mann, Chief Technical Officer at Rusal.

“The Institute’s specialists have successfully developed and enhanced the production of innovative solutions in the field of high-strength aluminium powders for additive technologies, intended for shipbuilding and the space industry, as well as aluminium alloys with increased corrosion resistance for railway, transport and construction,” he continued.

“Now, one of the ILM&T’s biggest tasks moving forward is to achieve a significant reduction in production costs by recycling and optimising the printing process parameters. This work will make it possible to accelerate the implementation of new developments and to expand their application to more industries in the future,” Mann concluded.

www.rusal.com

In the latest issue of Metal AM magazine

Download PDF
 

Extensive AM industry news coverage, as well as the following exclusive deep-dive articles:

  • Metal powders in Additive Manufacturing: An exploration of sustainable production, usage and recycling
  • Inside Wayland Additive: How innovation in electron beam PBF is opening new markets for AM
  • An end-to-end production case study: Leveraging data-driven machine learning and autonomous process control in AM
  • Consolidation, competition, and the cost of certification: Insight from New York’s AM Strategies 2024
  • Scandium’s impact on the Additive Manufacturing of aluminium alloys
  • AM for medical implants: An analysis of the impact of powder reuse in Powder Bed Fusion

The world of metal AM to your inbox

Don't miss any new issue of Metal AM magazine, and get the latest industry news. Sign up to our twice weekly newsletter.

Sign up

Discover our magazine archive…

The free to access Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine archive offers unparalleled insight into the world of metal Additive Manufacturing from a commercial and technological perspective through:

  • Reports on visits to leading metal AM part manufacturers and industry suppliers
  • Articles on technology and application trends
  • Information on materials developments
  • Reviews of key technical presentations from the international conference circuit
  • International industry news

All past issues are available to download as free PDFs or view in your browser.

Browse the archive

Looking for AM machines, metal powders or part manufacturing services?

Discover suppliers of these and more in our comprehensive advertisers’ index and buyer’s guide, available in the back of Metal AM magazine.

  • AM machines
  • Process monitoring & calibration
  • Heat treatment & sintering
  • HIP systems & services
  • Pre- & post-processing technology
  • Powders, powder production and analysis
  • Part manufacturers
  • Consulting, training & market data
View online
Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap