Outokumpu is entering the metal powder business for additive manufacturing – new atomization plant in Germany will start in April 2023
Outokumpu Oyj
Press release
March 29, 2023 at 9.00 EET
Outokumpu is entering the metal powder business for additive manufacturing – new atomization plant in Germany will start in April 2023
Metal powders used for Additive Manufacturing are revolutionizing the industry by boosting production capabilities through innovation and sustainability. Outokumpu, the global leader in sustainable stainless steel, is entering a new business by starting to produce metal powder at the company’s mill in Krefeld, Germany in April 2023. The metal powder production further strengthens Outokumpu’s ambitious sustainability strategy and circular economy efforts by using the steel scrap from local production to create new solutions to the market.
“The global demand for metal powder is on the rise and we see great potential for the business in the near future. We have seen the growth of Additive Manufacturing industries and the potential to strengthen the position and use of stainless steel for metal powder products, and therefore decided to start the construction of a new designed atomization plant. Outokumpu has an extensive expertise on the materials and will partner with interested powder customers. We are happy to start with the internal production soon, followed by external run a bit later. There is already a great interest among customers and the first projects have started,” says Thomas Anstots, President of BL Advanced materials at Outokumpu.
Outokumpu’s primary focus is on producing metal powders that are not yet on the market – suited for companies that use technologies such as Additive Manufacturing (AM), Metal Injection Moulding (MIM), Binder Jetting (BJ) and Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) to produce parts for demanding applications. With metal powders, manufacturers can produce parts with higher complexity, less weight and decreased lead times, avoiding disruptions in the supply chain.
“In the near future, the estimated total production capacity will be approximately 330 tons annually. Our longer-term target is to utilize the learnings and to build up our R&D knowhow to support the customer journey with expertise, new material development, flexibility and customization for various powder metallurgy technologies. In our future vision, we could be able to serve our customers in such a way that they could come to us with a problem and leave with a solution,” Anstots continues.
The atomization plant in Krefeld, Germany.
Outokumpu has the highest recycling rate – the new atomization plant as a large recycling unit
Outokumpu’s business is based on circular economy. The company’s stainless steel has the highest recycled material content rate – in 2022, the company achieved record-high rate of 94%. Outokumpu’s stainless steel is also the single most recycled material globally, and the company’s mills in Europe and in the US are among the largest material recycling facilities in the world.
“We want to help our customers to reduce climate burden by means of the right material choices. I’m proud of the fact that our new atomization plant in Krefeld will be a large recycling unit to support the circular economy further. The embodied carbon footprint of our whole production process is also reduced as the raw material is generated, and the product is produced and packaged, all in one place. This ensures to control the entire process and to significantly cut down the transportation emissions too,” says Anstots.
Outokumpu’s brand new portfolio of high-quality metal powders that includes stainless steel and nickel alloys have been specially formulated to meet the demands of modern manufacturing in terms of quality, sustainability and flexibility. Outokumpu is partnering with SMS group as the technology supplier. The Equipment as a Service (EaaS) contract ensures a continuous line optimization and close collaboration in the powder business between the supplier and the producer over the next years.
Read more: Metal powder | Outokumpu
For more information:
Outokumpu media desk, tel. +358 40 351 9840, e-mail media@outokumpu.com
Outokumpu is the global leader in stainless steel. The foundation of our business is our ability to tailor stainless steel into any form and for almost any purpose. Stainless steel is sustainable, durable and designed to last forever. Our customers use it to create civilization’s basic structures and its most famous landmarks as well as products for households and various industries. Outokumpu employs approximately 8,500 professionals in close to 30 countries, with headquarters in Helsinki, Finland and shares listed in Nasdaq Helsinki. www.outokumpu.com
