Global Advanced Metals and LPW Technology Cooperate on 3D Printing of Tantalum

Will demonstrate spheroidization and 3D laser printing of Tantalum
for Additive Manufacturing

WALTHAM, Mass. & RUNCORN CHESHIRE, United Kingdom–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Global Advanced Metals Pty Ltd (GAM), a leading producer of tantalum and
niobium products along with LPW Technology (LPW), a global manufacturer
of high-quality metal powders exclusively for additive manufacturing
(AM), announce a cooperative agreement to further demonstrate the
suitability of spheroidized tantalum for 3D metal printing.

Across this emerging industry there are few examples of additively
manufactured refractory metals, and a need exists for a more thorough
proof of concept and development of print criteria. GAM is filling this
void and expanding its product portfolio.

GAM is the world leader in tantalum powder technology, and offers
powders in nodular, angular, fractal and spherical morphologies for a
wide range of critical applications. Successful demonstration of laser
3D printing of tantalum offers GAM customers another powder option with
which to serve medical, dental, military, aerospace and other markets
via tantalum-based additive manufacturing. Tantalum offers superior
osteointegration, higher biocompatibility and reduced stress shielding
with respect to current metals and alloys used for medical implants.

“Leveraging LPW’s laser powder bed fusion expertise, developed by
viewing AM from the perspective of the powder, represents one step of
our strategy to extend our offering in tantalum and other refractory
metals to the additive manufacturing marketplace. We can now measure and
share physicochemical data for both our spherical tantalum and the
resulting 3D printed part and bring this solution to our partners, for
example practitioners, designers and manufacturers of tantalum based
surgical implants and other high reliability and critical devices,” said
Andrew O’Donovan, CEO, GAM.

LPW Technology is the market leader in the manufacture, development and
processing of high-quality metal powders for additive manufacturing, and
provides a comprehensive range of solutions and services for the AM
industry. These include the development and testing of new alloys,
expert application support, and innovative end-to-end hardware and
software.

“This initiative demonstrates the benefits of two experts in their
fields partnering to expand the materials knowledge-base for AM and
accelerate its adoption for production,” said Ben Ferrar, LPW’s COO.
“The performance of metal powder feedstock is key to building consistent
AM parts and delivering the required mechanical properties.

“This work will further develop understanding of the factors affecting
tantalum powder spheroidization and how it performs in the AM process,
adding assurance to metal AM producers of the material compatibility for
AM production.”

About Global Advanced Metals

With nearly 70 years in the Tantalum industry, GAM is the world’s only
fully integrated Tantalum supplier, with exclusive rights to the world’s
largest industrial resources of Tantalum ore located in Western
Australia. GAM produces best-in-class Tantalum powders and metallurgical
products in its Pennsylvania, USA and Aizu, Japan plants for a range of
industries, including electronics, aerospace, automotive, medical and
chemical processing. GAM’s processing facilities are certified
Conflict-Free through the Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP)
of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA). GAM is the first metal
supplier to be certified Conflict-Free under this program for eight
consecutive years.

For more information, visit http://www.globaladvancedmetals.com
or contact:
Craig Sungail: 610-369-8152, [email protected]
Sandeep
Jain: 781-996-7309, [email protected]

About LPW Technology

Established in 2007, LPW Technology is the market leader in the
manufacture, development and processing of high-quality metal powders
for additive manufacturing, and provides a comprehensive range of
solutions and services for the AM industry. These include the
development of new alloys and expert application support, and innovative
end-to-end solutions for AM.

LPW will be relocating its headquarters to its purpose-built, metal AM
powder manufacturing facility near Liverpool, UK, in 2018. Its US
operation, LPW Technology Inc., situated near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
provides analytical services, product inventory and sales support to
North and South America. From these locations the organisation supplies
high quality, certified powders to a global customer base including the
aerospace, medical and automotive industries.

For more information, visit www.lpwtechnology.com
or contact:
Dr Nicola Jones: +44(0)1928 240 530, [email protected]

Contacts

Global Advanced Metals
Craig Sungail, 610-369-8152
[email protected]
or
Sandeep
Jain, 781-996-7309
[email protected]
or
LPW
Technology
Dr Nicola Jones, +44(0)1928 240 530
[email protected]