United Grinding, inspire AG build joint additive processes venture

Source：Ringier Metalworking Release Date：2015-07-16 142

Metalworking

The Irpd AG joint venture, with headquarters in St. Gallen (Switzerland), is the new Center of Excellence for additive manufacturing of the UNITED GRINDING Group and is collectively managed by both joint venture partners.

The UNITED GRINDING Group, holding company for the Machine Tools Business Area in the Körber international technology group, is establishing a joint venture named Irpd AG with the university-affiliated inspire AG.

IRPD specializes in additive manufacturing processes, such as laser-based processes and 3D printing. The focus of the joint venture is to further develop these cutting-edge production processes

and thereby benefit from current research findings. ETH Zurich has made significant investments in inspire AG.

The JV firm concentrates on the manufacture of industrial metal or plastic prototypes through to the production of (small) series of complex workpieces as a service for customers. The focus is on additive manufacturing processes, particularly Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Selective Laser Melting (SLM) and 3D printing. IRPD also offers individual technology consulting, reverse engineering, scanning and services for the design and production of complex components.

The location will remain in the campus of the former inspire IRPD center of excellence in St. Gallen on the campus of the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA). This will also facilitate the continuation of knowledge transfer and exchange of experiences in the area of material research, among other things.

Stephan Nell, CEO of the United Grinding, said, "IRPD has extensive expertise in cutting-edge production techniques, which we intend to collectively further develop using our experience in industrial series production as a foundation. Additive manufacturing processes are of strategic relevance for us."

On the other hand, Dr. Jürg Krebser, Managing Director of inspire AG believes that the UNITED GRINDING Group is the best possible partner, who will open up outstanding development opportunities through its experience in professional production processes and its international market access.

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