BeAM accounts for the 3D printing revolution within Industry.
Illikirch (France) February 9th – BeAM, a young company launched in 2012 is the leading European manufacturer of 3D printing machines using metal powders based on DED technology (Direct Energy Deposition). Today, BeAM announces a 1 million euro fund, which is funded by five well-known people in the Industry field.
A fast growth and worldwide perspectives
The 3D printing worldwide market grows by over 20% a year, and has reached 3 billion dollars in 2014. Beam profits from this growth daily, and has managed to impose itself as a new major actor on the market. Its 2014 turnover of 300 000 euros should multiply by ten in 2015. To confront the exponentially growing market, BeAM has raised 1 million euros from five major figures that have been following the company for a few months. They will continue to extend their expertise by participating in the strategic council.
The funds raised allow BeAM to develop their R&D, to enlarge their team and get their own facilities (15 recruitments by the end of 2015 are planned), but also to deploy their international implantation.
The funds come from:
- Mr Emeric d’Arcimoles, General Commissioner of the international aeronautic and space fair – Paris le Bourget since July 2011. He is Safran’s President Advisor and Director of institutional affairs in the south-west of France since June 2011. - Mr Fredéric Sanchez, Parisian Winner of the EY prize 2014 for the Ile-de-France region. President of the Directoire of the Fives Group, an industrial engineering group that designs and supplies machines, process equipment and production lines for the world’s largest industrial groups including the aluminium, steel, glass, automotive, aerospace, logistics, cement and energy sectors.
- Mr Hervé Guillou, President of the DCNS, a French industrial group specialised in naval defence and energy. He led nuclear and aeronautic industrial groups and founded the CICS (that gathers the GIFAS, GICAT, GICAN et FIEC).
- Mr Maurice Berenger, CEO of Protip Medical, member of the Defymed council and of Endotools Therapeutics. He created a few start-ups and led them to success.
- Mr Philippe Varin, Ambassador of the French industries on the ASEA area in 2014, President of the Industry Circle and member of the EDF Board of Directors.
A process that has proved its efficiency
BeAM (Be Additive Manufacturing) is a spin-off of IREPA LASER, the CRITT (Technology Transfer Centre), a French company, expert in laser processes. BeAM uses one of IREPA LASER’s developments: the CLAD® process (Direct additive manufacturing by laser). This process consists in injecting metal powders in a laser that melts them ; thus, to create parts or to repair or add functionalities to existing parts, straight from computer designs. BeAM’s first customers are from the aeronautic industry. BeAM has already repaired over 700 parts of aircraft turbines with the American company Chromalloy. Chromalloy are specialists in optimisation and prolongation of the life gas turbine engines. Chromalloy in collaboration with IREPA LASER, is at the origin of the qualifications of the CLAD® process by the aircraft engine manufacturer, Pratt & Whitney. The CLAD® process can be used in all industries that manufacture or repair parts. BeAM can rely on the expertise of Fives, an industrial engineering group that designs and supplies machines, to produce the base of the large machine, and of Aventis Engineering for the smaller machines. BeAM incorporates the CLAD® technology and other elements that guarantee an industrial solution for their customers. Fives continues to play an important strategic role in the international commercialisation and after-sales service. The regrouping of the expertises of Fives and BeAM, allows BeAM to be an unparalleled international actor of metal additive manufacturing (3D metal printing).
A solution approach to accompany its customers
Before selling its machines, BeAM has chosen firstly to support its customers in the creation and repair of their parts so that they can appropriate the technology. Customers should gain a technological solution before purchasing the machine and the production combined with it. BeAM accompanies them from start to finish: from the feasibility study to the knowledge transfer concerning the machines. This “solution” approach reassures industrial groups. They profit from this disrupting new technology without risk when they obtain their machine, on which they have an insured ROI. “This raise of funds is a major step for the company and gives a strong signal to the market. Not only is our business model strong and acknowledged, but we also have support from some of the most major industrial personalities who trust in us and bring their precious expertise. A big French industrial group also guarantees our industrial solution worldwide. 3D printing isrevolutionizing business models of the industry. We count on being a main actor of this revolution.” Says Emmanuel Laubriat, CEO of BeAM.
About BeAM
European Leader in the conception of additive manufacturing machines based on the CLAD® technology (Construction Laser Additive Direct), BeAM offers manufacture or repair of metal parts using metal powder deposition. The company was created in 2012, and has a very important growth. BeAM accompanies is customers in the industrialisation of their technology. This is done through different steps: feasibility studies, pilot productions, sales of systems and training. BeAM has also a known experience in the aeronautic industry, as the repair of aircraft engines, today, is the highest level of perfection any 3D printing technology has ever reached in industrial applications. BeAM is part of GIFAS, the aeronautic and space industry trade union.
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