Begner expands WAAM production with GEFERTEC system in Falun

The Swedish company Begner Agenturer is expanding its business to include its own production for metal 3D printing and is at the same time becoming a sales partner of GEFERTEC in Scandinavia. A production cell is being set up in Falun, with an arc80X system at its core. The project is part of a regional initiative to strengthen the industrial infrastructure in central Sweden and aims to ensure a locally secured supply of complex metal components.

Technologically, Begner is relying on Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM). The process uses an electric arc and wire as feedstock to build up components layer by layer directly from CAD data. In contrast to subtractive machining, only the volume actually required is deposited, which significantly reduces material consumption and thus waste. For users in mechanical engineering, the energy sector, or the offshore industry, this is particularly attractive for large components that are difficult to machine.

The arc80X is designed for large-volume components. In the three-axis configuration, workpieces with edge lengths of up to two meters and a mass of up to eight tons can be realized. The five-axis variant targets rotationally symmetrical geometries such as shafts or rings with a diameter of around 0.9 meters and a height of 1.4 meters. As an option, the system can be operated in an enclosed shielding gas atmosphere in order to process materials such as titanium or high-alloy steels with process stability. Integrated process monitoring records all relevant parameters during the build-up and supports reproducibility.

In addition to in-house production, Begner will take over the distribution of GEFERTEC technology in Scandinavia. Companies can initially have WAAM components produced on a contract basis in Falun, allowing them to practically evaluate process quality and post-processing concepts.

“As GEFERTEC’s sales partner in Scandinavia, we not only want to make the technology accessible, but also build trust,” explains Patrik Fredriksson, Managing Director of Begner Agenturer. “With the arc80X on site, potential customers can directly experience the quality of the components through a joint production project – a crucial step before they invest in their own systems.”

With the commissioning of the arc80X, Begner is positioning itself as a regional point of contact for WAAM-based production and creating an interface between technology provider and user industry. For GEFERTEC, the cooperation opens up access to a growing market for large-format additively manufactured metal components in Scandinavia, where short supply chains and local production are becoming increasingly important.