ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
SLM Solutions | March 15, 2023
IperionX, a leader in sustainable titanium technologies, and SLM Solutions, prominent in metal additive manufacturing (AM) systems, have announced signing a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) on March 14, 2023, to look into the possibility of IperionX supplying SLM with spherical titanium metal powders from its upcoming Titanium Demonstration Facility (TDF) in Virginia.
With more than 850 systems and 1,400 lasers installed worldwide, SLM Solutions is a top provider of metal 3D printing solutions. The company pioneered metal AM using metal powders and invented selective laser melting via the Laser Powder Bed Fusion AM method.
SLM's global clientele may soon have access to the first 100% recycled titanium metal powders as per the MoU with two industry leaders. Titanium has a significant negative influence on the environment, but with IperionX's innovative titanium technology, high-quality titanium powders can be produced using only recycled titanium feedstocks.
Anastasios (Taso) Arima, Co-Founder and CEO at IperionX, remarked, "We are pleased to be partnering with SLM, a global leader in metal 3D printing solutions. This agreement recognizes the value of sustainable, 100% recycled titanium metal powders for leading companies and will be a unique titanium powder offering for SLM's global customers."
(Source – Business Wire)
Sam O'Leary, Chief Executive Officer at SLM Solutions, stated, "The partnership between IperionX and SLM Solutions is a real plus for SLM users and expands their material portfolio with recycled low-cost titanium material. We look forward to offer the only 100% recycled titanium metal powder as part of our extensive materials offering."
(Source – Business Wire)
About SLM Solutions
SLM Solutions is a publicly traded company with its headquarters in Germany and offices in Canada, China, France, India, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States. It offers integrated metal additive manufacturing solutions. With its customers' success at its core, it has been at the forefront of metal additive manufacturing (AM) since its foundation. With up to 12 lasers and build rates of up to 1,000ccm/h, SLM Solutions is home to the fastest metal AM machines in the world. As a result, it leads the industry in terms of return on investment, profitability, and productivity.
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ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, 3D PRINTING
Oqton | March 14, 2023
On March 13, 2023, Oqton, a provider of software that helps manufacturers boost productivity and creativity through the intelligent automation of production, and Baker Hughes, a leader in energy technology, announced the formation of a commercial software development and technical partnership.
The agreement will combine the engineering and manufacturing know-how of the two companies to create an industrial digital ecosystem that will revolutionize how products are brought to market in highly regulated sectors like the aerospace, energy, and healthcare industries.
The system aims to speed up the design and production of additively built parts throughout the manufacturing workflow. This will increase productivity and make it easier to facilitate compliance.
As part of the development agreement, Baker Hughes is incorporating Oqton's Manufacturing OS into its workflow, including the company's patented additive manufacturing technologies developed for vertical applications over the past decade. As a result, the firms will be able to improve the additive manufacturing platform for the energy industry by combining Oqton's self-sufficient approach to production with Baker
Baker Hughes specializes in developing and implementing manufacturing processes in highly regulated industrial environments. The companies look forward to paving the way for developing additional applications and plug-ins that will be incorporated into the Oqton Manufacturing OS and allow them to expand into new markets with more stringently regulated industries with more demanding end-use applications, such as the aerospace and healthcare sectors.
Dr. Ben Schrauwen, SVP and General Manager of Oqton, stated, "We believe that manufacturing is going through its most significant phase of disruption since the first industrial revolution."
(Source – Globe Newswire)
Jim Sessions, Vice President for Completions, Interventions and Measurements at Baker Hughes, remarked, "As an energy technology company, Baker Hughes is fully committed to the development of the most advanced technologies looking for more efficient, more reliable, and cleaner energy solutions."
(Source – Globe Newswire)
About Oqton
By delivering end-to-end software solutions for additive manufacturing, 3D scanning, and robotic welding, Oqton speeds up intelligent manufacturing, which in turn aids industrial and healthcare enterprises in their pursuit of efficiency and innovation. The company's additive manufacturing platform provides AI-powered features for additive design, image segmentation, build prep, MES, simulation and additive inspection, enabling total traceability and visibility across an organization.
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ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION, PROCUREMENT & SUPPLY CHAIN
Optoro | March 13, 2023
Optoro, the market leader in retail returns and reverse logistics technology, and Locus Robotics, another leading player in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for distribution centers and fulfillment warehouses, have recently entered into a partnership to deliver an automated software and robotics solution for handling high volumes of retail ecommerce returns.
The leading robotics automation system of Locus allows seamless up and down scaling in response to fluctuations in demand, enabling operators to speed up returns processing, minimize restocking issues, and reduce personnel expenses. The Locus system offers high-volume, round-the-clock operations in both single-level and multi-level mezzanine settings, and it automates a huge amount of e-commerce.
Growing e-commerce inevitably leads to a rise in returns as customers increase their purchases. In 2022, US retail sales brought in $816 billion, and e-commerce sales brought in $212 billion. Both of these numbers were up more than 100% from 2019. Reverse logistics encompasses a wide range of functions, including returns management, warehousing, sales, logistics, finance, recycling management, disposal of end-of-life products and environmental compliance, as products are returned, refurbished, repaired and recycled.
Amena Ali, Chief Executive Officer at Optoro, remarked, “Partnering with Locus enables us to deliver a proven robotics automation solution that is well positioned to meet the high throughput demands of today’s return centers.” She further added, “Together, we can help retailers move inventory faster and more efficiently through the supply chain, cut costs, minimize their environmental impact, and improve the customer experience.”
(Source – GlobeNewswire)
Al Dekin, Chief Revenue Officer at Locus Robotics, stated, "Returns and reverse logistics have historically been high-volume, high-cost functions that are typically quite complicated. We believe our partnership with Optoro will provide 3PLs, retailers, warehouse operators, and others a repeatable, efficient, and proven solution.”
(Source – GlobeNewswire)
About Optoro
Founded in 2010, and headquartered in Washington, Optoro is the leader in returns technology for retailers and brands. With the help of data science, it automates decisions in real-time to make the returns process better for customers, businesses, and the environment. It connects a simple online returns portal to the warehouse's processing and resale software, offering robust solutions to improve results at every step of the returns process. Major retailers and brands like American Eagle, Best Buy, Staples, and IKEA rely on Optoro's technology to turn returns into a strategic advantage and facilitate sustainability efforts throughout the supply chain.
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