Sandvik and BEAMIT offer super-duplex stainless steel components produced in Osprey 2507
April 20, 2021
Sweden’s Sandvik AB and part subsidiary BEAMIT Group have announced they can now offer additively manufactured super-duplex stainless steel components. The components are produced in Osprey® 2507 metal powder – known for its corrosion resistance and durability – and are near fully dense (> 99.9%) and crack-free, even before post-processing.
The use of iron-based and highly corrosion-resistant materials in Additive Manufacturing has seen significant interest during the past few years explains Sandvik. This is largely due to the needs of demanding industries such as the offshore- and marine segments where challenging environments call not only for advanced materials but for on-demand production of spare parts, to minimise stock and decrease material waste.
Produced and optimised for AM in-house by engineers at Sandvik Additive Manufacturing, Osprey 2507 is a super duplex alloy that reportedly has excellent corrosion resistance and mechanical strength. Sandvik’s super-duplex stainless steels are already used in highly-corrosive environments, such as the seawater exposed offshore energy sector, and in demanding chemical processing. Predominantly used in the shape of seamless tubes, plates, and bars, super-duplex steel is said to have been a challenge in AM – until now.
“By leveraging nearly two centuries of materials expertise and industry leading know-how along the additive value chain, we are proud to say Sandvik is the first to offer 3D printed super duplex components to the market,” stated Mikael Schuisky, VP and Business Unit Manager at Sandvik Additive Manufacturing. “While many have tried and failed, we are very pleased to have seen components printed to a standard that doesn’t just meet, but outperform that of several conventionally manufactured counterparts.”
Since 2019, Sandvik has owned a significant stake in the BEAMIT Group. As a leading European AM service provider, BEAMIT supports customers in the most demanding industries with high-end metal components.
“We are very excited to co-launch this potent combination of a superior material and the disruptive benefits of Additive Manufacturing to the market,” commented Michele Antolotti, Engineering and R&D Manager at the BEAMIT Group. “Having already developed print parameters for single-laser machines, we are now progressing to expand our joint offering to include even larger applications. With the profound materials expertise within Sandvik, and BEAMIT Group’s market-leading abilities throughout the additive value chain, we are truly in a unique position to supply the offshore industries with an array of business-critical benefits, in terms of component performance and timely production alike.”
Johan Wallin, Product Manager for super duplex at Sandvik Additive Manufacturing, said, “Sandvik has been driving the materials evolution since 1862, with duplex stainless steels – including super duplex and hyper duplex – being one of our flagship material families. By our joint forces with BEAMIT, and by combining the inherited applicational benefits of additive manufacturing with the superior characteristics of Osprey 2507 – we are set up to drive the implementation of AM across a number of industries where the impact of optimised, corrosion-resistant components, as well as on-demand production of spare parts is potentially enormous.”
