ORNL, Strangpresse sign additive manufacturing patent license agreement

The Department of Energy (DOE)'s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL; Oak Ridge, TN) and Strangpresse LLC (Youngstown, OH; a Hapco Inc. affiliate) have signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement on a portfolio of ORNL patents related to large-scale additive manufacturing. ORNL is leading advances in the production of large-scale 3D-printed materials, refining industrial processes to decrease costs and increase efficiency.

Under the agreement, Strangpresse may make, use, or sell ORNL’s patented developments of materials, processes, and controls that enable the manufacture of parts much larger than current standards. The agreement is the latest in a series of ORNL advances following printing of a Shelby Cobra at DOE’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at ORNL. The Cobra debuted at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in January 2015.

Lonnie Love, leader of ORNL’s Manufacturing Systems Research group, said the speed of next-generation additive manufacturing offers new opportunities for the automotive, aerospace, and prototyping industries. “Our goal is to demonstrate the potential of large-scale additive manufacturing as an innovative and viable manufacturing technology,” Love says. “We want to improve digital manufacturing solutions for the automotive industry.”

Strangpresse, founded in 2014, was formed to research, develop, and commercialize fully controllable, lightweight, thermoplastic extruders for 3D printing. The company supplies extruders and other equipment for research and development in additive manufacturing.

A portfolio of ORNL patents associated with large-scale additive manufacturing is available for licensing on a non-exclusive basis. ORNL and UT-Battelle work closely with licensees to ensure commercialization of licensed technologies.

For more information, please visit www.ornl.gov/partnerships/technology-licensing.