Le blog de BeAM

Safran confirms its interest for metal 3D printing and orders one of BeAM’s machines

This order is the result of an Open-Innovation collaboration between Safran and BeAM since 2014

 

Bourget, June 15^th, 2015 – After a year and a half of the Open-Innovation collaboration, the international high-tech group Safran, the leading equipment supplier in its core markets of aeronautics, aerospace, defence and security, has ordered its first machine from BeAM, first European manufacturer of additive manufacturing machines by metal powder deposition. This order is from the core of the Safran Tech’s Research & Technology department (R&T), and is the result of the creation of the new Safran’s Additive Manufacturing department.

 

Lead by the Open-Innovation service created in 2013 by Laurent Deleville, the collaborative innovation director of the Safran group. The first series of tests carried out in 2014 allowed the validation of BeAM’s technology to be use in several of Safran’s subsidiaries to repair parts and manufacture new ones. After the first very encouraging results, Safran has ordered its first BeAM machine for further applications using this technology.

 

This machine will allow the development of new repairs and manufacturing processes for parts coming from every companies of the Safran group. “We have proved the feasibility during the test series since 2014, and we are now industrializing the process. Additive manufacturing is the future of the manufacturing industry, and that is why the Safran group would like to be a leading actor.” Declares Thierry Thomas, Safran’s Additive Manufacturing VP. Nonetheless, the Safran Tech’s research department will develop new uses, especially concerning materials for future engine programs.

 

 

“The work done with the Safran’s Open Innovation team allowed us to spare precious time to get fast industrial results for the benefit of both Safran and BeAM. Thus making the adoption of this technology a lot faster as many barriers have been eliminated (cultural, purchase, maturity of our technology…). This purchase by an important industrial group like Safran is for BeAM a proof of confidence that demonstrates the industrial quality of our machines and their innovative potential” declares Emmanuel Laubriat, BeAM’s CEO and co-founder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Safran

Safran is an international high-tech group, leading equipment supplier in areas such as aeronautics and space (propulsion equipment supplier), Defence and security. Implanted on each continent, the Group is composed of 69 000 employees for a 15,4 billion euros turnover in 2014. Safran has many subsidiaries, and represents either alone or in partnership several international leading positions. To meet the market’s evolutions, the group is involved in research & development programs that represented 2 billion euros of investment in 2014. Safran is a company present on the Euronext Paris and on the CAC 40. For more informations, visit www.safran-group.com / Follow @SAFRAN on Twitter

 

About BeAM

First European manufacturer of metal additive manufacturing machines based on the CLAD technology, BeAM’s machines allow the repair of metal parts by metal powder deposition. The company was created in 2012, and is currently growing fast. The company raised 1 million euros in 2014 with the help of 5 well-known entrepreneurs. BeAM supports its customers during the industrialization of the manufacturing and repair processes in different steps: feasibility study, pilot production, system sales and training. BeAM is also recognized in the aeronautic sector with the repair of critical airplane engine parts at the highest level of qualification for an additive manufacturing process. BeAM is part of the GIFAS, union of the aeronautical and spatial industry.

Major partnership between BeAM, innovative start-up in metal additive manufacturing and the world industrial engineering group Fives

 

Paris, 12 June 2015 - BeAM, first European manufacturer  of additive manufacturing  machines using  metal  powder  deposit  technology,  announces  a  major  partnership  with  Fives,  an industrial engineering  group, which designs and supplies machines, process equipment  and production lines for the world’s major industrial groups. 

BeAM uses the CLAD® process (Direct Additive Laser Construction), developed by the Irepa Laser research center to manufacture or repair metal parts by additive manufacturing.  This process is revolutionizing  industrial economic  models  by transforming  first the maintenance market. Applied in particular for the repair of aerospace parts such as jet engines, this process will also allow to drastically reduce the costs and repair time. Together with Chromalloy  and IREPA LASER, BeAM obtained the highest qualification level in the world for additive manufacturing  with the qualification  of several Pratt & Whitney parts of aircraft turbines. To date, more than 700 parts have been repaired with this process on BeAM’s machine.

An international partnership

In order to manufacture  industrial grade machines,  BeAM  turned to the French engineering group Fives, especially Fives Machining Company, known for its technological mastery and its expertise  in the implementation  of projects regarding design and manufacturing  of machine - tools, which are exported  worldwide.  Fives Machining  has developed  a first five-axis  basic machine  combining  high-precision,  high-rigidity  and high-dynamic  of  the  axes,  which  are necessary for the implementation  of the metal additive manufacturing  process.

Thanks to their complementarities,  BeAM and Fives Machining are becoming partners for the

manufacturing  of  machines,  their  marketing  and their  worldwide  customer  service,  which guarantees  a real industrial  support  for BeAM  customers.  Besides  aerospace,  the sectors addressed by the partners cover the entire mechanical  industry. The partnership  agreement provides  for the allocation  of the following  roles:  Fives  Machining  manufactures  the basic machines, BeAM integrates the CLAD® process and finalizes the machine, Fives Machining provides  services  support.  Marketing  and commercial  promotion  of BeAM’s  machines  are conducted in collaboration by both entities.

"This  partnership   start-up/major   group  is  part  of  our  open  innovation  approach,   says Emmanuel   Laubriat,  President  of  BeAM.  Our  complementarities  in  terms  of  innovative expertise and world capacities allow us to propose a unique offer on the industrial machinery market for additive manufacturing. The pooling of BeAM and Fives expertise’s propels BeAM to a position of manufacturer of 3D laser deposition machines, unrivalled on the world stage.”

About BeAM

First European  supplier  of metal  parts  by additive  manufacturing  using CLAD®  technology (Direct Additive Laser Construction), BeAM offers manufacturing  and repair of metal parts by metal powder deposition. This fast-growing company was founded in 2012. In 2014, it raised an amount of 1 million Euros with five renowned contractors. BeAM supports its customers in the industrialization  of their  manufacturing  and repair  processes  through  different  stages: feasibility  studies,  pilot  production,  sales  of  systems,  training.  Thanks  to  its  renowned experience in aeronautics, BeAm has reached, with the repair of aircraft engine components, the    highest    level    of    development     for    industrial     applications     in    the    additive manufacturing.   BeAM  is  part  of the  GIFAS,   the  Trade  Union  of  aeronautical  and  space industries.

About Fives:

Fives is an industrial engineering Group which designs and supplies machines, process equipment and production lines for the world’s largest industrial groups in various sectors such as aluminum,  steel, glass, automotive,  logistics, aerospace, cement and energy. In all these sectors, Fives designs and manufactures  equipment and innovative solutions, which better anticipate and meet the needs of its customers in terms of performance,  quality, safety and respect for the environment.  In 2014, Fives generated a turnover of 1.5 billion Euros and employed over 8,000 staff in some thirty countries.

Through its Metal Cutting │ Composites offer, Fives is specialized in the supply of machine-tools  and complete manufacturing  solutions for a wide variety of industrial sectors. Relying on the expertise of its teams and world-famous  legacy names such as Cincinnati, Giddings & Lewis, Forest-Liné, Liné Machines and Rouchaud, Fives offers its customers customized  services and solutions.

-    Innovative and highly efficient metal cutting solutions for the entire process

-    Laser-based systems, welding and special-purpose  applications

-    Highly productive automated composites  processing equipments

-     Global Services: a complete range of services dedicated to the performance  of the machines throughout their lifecycle.

BeAM a leader and fast-growing company in 3D metal printing announces a fund-raising and an extraordinary management board.

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.