Oerlikon, an integrated additive manufacturing service provider, is planning to strategically realign its additive manufacturing business and consolidate its AM production in the US – as it is the largest growth market for this technology. Adverse market conditions for AM in Germany are currently limiting growth opportunities, according to the company.
Focusing AM production in Huntersville, North Carolina, will bring the business closer to the US growth sectors (such as the semiconductor industry) and also enable the business to benefit from the more conducive US framework conditions and higher market acceptance for disruptive technologies. In the future, European and other international customers are planned to be served from the US.
In close coordination with existing customers, the current production at Barleben and Shanghai is planned to be relocated in 2024. The R&D site in Garching, Germany, will focus on developing new advanced materials, surface coating technologies, and digitalization.
Additive Manufacturing is a business of Oerlikon’s Surface Solutions division, and was founded as a start-up to develop and produce novel 3D applications for sectors such as aerospace and semiconductor production.
