GKN Hoeganaes, TLS Technik partner to produce titanium powder for additive manufacturing

GKN Hoeganaes (Hückeswagen, Germany) and TLS Technik (Bitterfeld, Germany) have entered into a partnership in which the two companies will manufacture titanium powders in North America for additive manufacturing applications.

TLS has 20 years of experience manufacturing titanium powder for the additive manufacturing market. The new joint venture complements GKN's previously announced powder R&D efforts in Cinnaminson, NJ, and provides the company's customers with a North American source for titanium powders, especially for the growing aerospace and medical markets.

Additive manufacturing, which allows components to be built up in layers by depositing material rather than subtracting, offers freedom to design and manufacture lightweight, heat-resistant and cost-saving parts never before attempted because of current manufacturing limitations.

GKN Hoeganaes, a subsidiary of GKN Powder Metallurgy, produces metal powders for structural components, with metal powder manufacturing facilities in the US, Europe, and Asia. The new facility to accommodate the titanium powder manufacturing plans to open in 2017.

For more information, please visit www.gkn.com/hoeganaes and www.tls-technik.de.