AddUp and WBA Collaborate on Additive Manufacturing for Toolmaking
As part of the partnership, a FormUp 350 New Generation powder bed system from AddUp will be installed at the WBA Demonstration Tool Shop.
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(left to right) Julien Marcilly, AddUp Deputy CEO; Frank Moreau, AddUp CEO; Wolfgang Boos, WBA managing partner; and Johannes Henrich Schleifenbaum, managing director at Aachen Center for Additive Manufacturing. Photo credit: AddUp
The WBA Aachener Werkzeugbau Akademie GmbH and AddUp are partnering to create new manufacturing processes for metal 3D printing technologies for toolmaking. For this collaboration, a FormUp 350 New Generation powder bed fusion (PBF) laser machine from AddUp will be installed at the WBA Demonstration Tool Shop.
The WBA functions as a partner of the tool and die industry for consulting, education and research. In its own demonstration tool shop, the WBA replicates the entire process chain of toolmaking and works with member companies to develop innovative solutions for the industry. As a platform for the tool and die sector, the WBA says it creates a connection between science and industry.
In the future, interested parties and customers of both partners will be able to gain experience on this system during workshops, training sessions and demonstrations. In addition, there is the possibility of building on this PBF laser machine first prototypes, demonstrators and small series. The FormUp 350 with four laser sources will be used for hard tool steel and applications in moldmaking and medical tools. The WBA will provide its process chain for the mechanical postprocessing and finish the parts ready for use.
“The future of toolmaking is not bound to the traditional manufacturing technologies. Additive Manufacturing sees growing demand from tool makers, ” says Professor Wolfgang Boos, WBA managing partner. “Especially in Germany, toolmakers are looking for solutions to drive innovation and digitalization in their tool shops. At WBA, we strive to represent all capabilities of German toolmaking in our demonstration tool shop. AddUp shares our passion for innovation and we look forward to creating new solutions for a sustainable toolmaking industry.”
This partnership provides an opportunity for AddUp to introduce its FormUp 350 machine and its know-how in the birthplace of Additive Manufacturing. “Thanks to this partnership, companies of the tooling industry will take advantage of this disruptive technology,” says Julien Marcilly, AddUp deputy CEO.
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