Mid Sweden University and Sandvik announce partnership

Mid Sweden University and global engineering group Sandvik have agreed a partnership focusing on the further development of materials for 3D printing with electron beam melting. As part of the collaboration, an innovative electron beam melting machine will be installed at the university, offering enhanced research and development opportunities through new functionalities. The machine will remain the property of Sandvik, while the university will be responsible for operation and maintenance.

“We have already launched the first project where we want to develop and industrialise a new alloy on the market for electron beam melting — a super-duplex stainless steel material that is very strong and resistant to corrosion. I believe that we will be able to initiate more of this type of project through our cooperation”, says Lars-Erik Rännar, professor and research leader additive manufacturing, Mid Sweden University.

Sandvik brings its expertise along the entire additive value chain to the partnership, from metal powder production to finished components. Mikael Schuisky, Vice President and Head of the Additive Manufacturing business unit at Sandvik, emphasizes that the collaboration is particularly aimed at further developing the company’s proprietary super duplex powders such as Osprey 2507, which has already been successfully adapted for the laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) process.

“Sandvik is a frontrunner in additive manufacturing, with leading expertise along the additive value chain — from metal powder to finished component. We are very much looking forward to collaborating with Mid Sweden University who are highly experienced in electron beam melting, and especially so since we will be focusing on super-duplex stainless steel. This is a flagship alloy group for Sandvik, which we have been perfecting for decades. Earlier this year we announced our capability to process our well-renowned super-duplex metal powder Osprey 2507 through L-PBF, and now we look forward to keep developing this material for other applications through additive manufacturing as well”, says Mikael Schuisky, VP and Head of Business Unit Additive Manufacturing at Sandvik.

For the university, the new machine not only means an expansion of research capacities, but also an increase in attractiveness for national and international students. The machine enables materials to be analyzed more precisely and manufacturing processes to be designed more flexibly.

“Sandvik’s collaboration with us is a proof that we have conducted good research for a long time in additive manufacturing and specifically electron beam melting, and it will help us recruit both national and international students for our upcoming courses at advanced level”, says Lars-Erik Rännar.

The cooperation underlines the importance of interdisciplinary research and industrial collaboration to further develop additive manufacturing and create sustainable solutions for industrial applications.