Pasi Kangas, Head of Technology

The applications for powder and additive manufacturing are numerous, ranging from components for the manufacturing of cars, airplanes and even spaceships to electronics and medical implants.

“Space is an interesting area. It is growing with micro satellites coming up and companies that are aiming to explore space. It is a low volume production but with high value and a lot of advanced materials, so it is very common to use powder metallurgy processes,” says Pasi Kangas.

Powder and additive manufacturing are recognized green technologies.

“You only use exactly the amount of material you need to build your component and can recycle any remaining material and use it again. It is really resource efficient to use metal powders.”

If, for example, you use titanium to 3D-print parts for the aerospace industry, you will achieve lightweight components which will reduce the fuel consumption and the environmental impact.

Kangas foresees a prospering future for powder technology and additive manufacturing.

“In the near future we envision the additive manufacturing industry moving into serial production of, for example, aerospace engines, and that printer technologies are getting more advanced and stable. Our belief is that very few components will be replaced by additive manufacturing, but for those that do, it really makes a difference and adds very high value. As an example you may need 20 parts instead of 800.”