Oerlikon to Build Advanced Manufacturing Facility in U.S.

Oerlikon Corporation AG (Pfäffikon, Switzerland) has announced that they will be building a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Plymouth Township, MI, that is dedicated to producing advanced materials for additive manufacturing (AM) and high-end surface coatings. This investment is another key step in their strategy to become a powerhouse in surface solutions and advanced materials and will serve to accelerate the industrialization of additive manufacturing. This new facility will extend and strengthen their materials capabilities in order to respond to the increasing demand for advanced and new materials for industrial applications.

Oerlikon expects the demand for advanced materials for AM to increase rapidly in the coming years, making it one of the key growth areas in metal-based AM. This new facility will produce the latest materials for the AM market, such as advanced titanium alloys, and certain high-end thermal spray powders. The site will be fully equipped with next-generation VIGA technology that combines vacuum induction melting with inert gas atomization systems. VIGA is one of the most versatile methods for processing a variety of metals and alloys into powders. It offers improved process efficiency and yields. The facility will also house a state-of-the-art research and development lab for further developments of titanium and other alloys (including nickel, copper, iron and cobalt) for joint R&D projects with customers, and have the ability to produce customized powders in small batches.

In the first phase, Oerlikon plans to invest approximately $50 million in the facility with the option of further expanding and developing the site to meet customers’ demands. The new facility complements their existing site in Troy, MI, where advanced materials for surface solutions are produced. They expect to initially employ approximately 70 people in Plymouth Township, a high-tech corridor where many leading industrial research facilities are based. The facility is expected to be operational by the end of 2017.

“We intend to take a leading position in the industrialization of AM and we are convinced that this new facility will ignite this ambition,” noted Dr. Roland Fischer, the chief executive officer of the Oerlikon Group. “This investment marks an important step in our plans to grow a strong presence in North America and is a key milestone for us to become a leading service provider for the fast-expanding AM market. I would like to thank the Michigan Business Development Program for their support, and we look forward to becoming part of this community.”

www.oerlikon.com