Citim’s metals 3D printing abilities have been added to Oerlikon’s growing portfolio
The German firm Oerlikon, specialising in surface solutions, advanced materials and materials processing, has added experienced metals additive manufacturing company Citim to its portfolio.
With the acquisition of citim, Oerlikon suggests that it has taken an important step to become a ‘global powerhouse in the industry, combining its knowledge in the engineering of industrial components, materials, and closely related technologies such as thermal spray and thin-film coating, positioning it to take part in the industrialisation of additive manufacturing.
Oerlikon claims it can now offer an integrated end-to-end service concept for metals 3D printing, with a wide portfolio of advanced metal-based materials and processing technologies applied across a wide range of industrial areas.
Citim already has customers in Europe and in the USA, serving high-tech industries such as aviation, automotive and energy.
Oerlikon expects the demand for advanced materials for additive manufacturing to increase rapidly in the coming years, making it one of the key growth areas in metal-based additive manufacturing. The company has recently announced plans for a new facility in Michigan, USA.
The plant will produce parts from advanced materials, including titanium alloys for the additive manufacturing market and certain high-end thermal spray powders.
“The competencies and team from Citim will serve to consolidate our position in the additive manufacturing business, marking the acquisition as an important move for us to drive the industrialisation of additive manufacturing and to become an independent service provider for the production of additively manufactured components,” said Oerlikon CEO Dr. Roland Fischer.
“We will continue to make targeted investments in the additive manufacturing market to solidify our value proposition.”
