Optomec, a leading global supplier of production grade additive manufacturing (AM) systems for 3D printed metals and 3D printed electronics, announced a strategic alliance with Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation (TNSC), a supplier of industrial, specialty, and electronic gases. This strategic alliance will enable TNSC, and its subsidiary Matheson, to resell Optomec LENS 3D printers as part of a total AM solution offering including gases, powder feed stock, and metal heat treatment techniques, and Optomec to expand LENS product sales by using TNSC group sales network in Japan, US and Asia. As part of the alliance, TNSC has also made a capital investment in Optomec.

In addition to industrial gases, TNSC is a leading supplier of metal welding solutions, which can be considered the basic building block of most of today’s metal printing technologies. TNSC will leverage its expertise in welding processes, metal heat treatment and controlled gas atmospheres to help lower costs, streamline production and eliminate defects for additive manufacturing customers globally. TNSC organizes dedicated technical team for Additive Manufacturing Technology at its gas application R&D lab in Yamanashi, Japan, and will feature an Optomec LENS printer to be used for applied technical support, demonstration services, and creation of innovative and efficient Additive Manufacturing solutions.  This will be the first integrated Metal Additive Manufacturing Technology Lab in Asia and will be supported by technology alliances with various industry partners.

The Optomec LENS family of 3D metal printers have been used in industry for almost two decades to cost-effectively produce, repair and rework high-performance metal components in materials such as titanium, stainless steel, and nickel based superalloys.  LENS printers use the energy from a high-power laser to build up structures one layer at a time directly from powdered metals.  The resulting fully functional material offers excellent mechanical properties often equal to or better than wrought.  LENS 3D Metal printers are used throughout the entire product lifecycle for applications ranging from Materials Research to Repair and Rework to Low Volume Manufacturing.

Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corp. 
www.tn-sanso.co.jp/en

MATHESON
www.mathesongas.com

Optomec
www.optomec.com