Divergent 3D Partners with SLM Solutions

Divergent 3D (Los Angeles, CA) has entered into a Strategic Development Partnership with SLM Solutions Group AG (Lübeck, Germany), one of the world’s leading 3D metal printing equipment manufacturers. In this partnership:

• SLM Solutions Group will work closely with Divergent to develop specific hardware and software that will accelerate scaling of the patented Divergent Manufacturing Platform™ for cost-effective, high-volume production of vehicles.
• SLM Solutions Group is one of the world’s leading 3D metal printing equipment manufacturers. It is engaged in the development, production and distribution of selective laser melting systems, which create three-dimensional objects from metal powders.
• Divergent 3D has invented a patented software-hardware platform enabled by 3D metal printing that radically transforms the economics and environmental impact of designing and manufacturing complex structures such as cars.

Additive manufacturing has long been used throughout the auto industry for small-scale pilot programs focused on developing individual 3D-printed components for production. Divergent 3D and SLM Solutions, in contrast, are partnering to transform the process of designing and manufacturing overall vehicle structures. Their objective is to build lighter, structurally safe, more cost-efficient and environmentally responsible automobiles. Here is an example of the structure and assembly of a vehicle using the Divergent Manufacturing Platform:

Divergent 3D is a technology development and licensing company that is led by founder and chief executive officer Kevin Czinger. They invented the proprietary Divergent Manufacturing Platform that radically transforms the economics and environmental impact of designing and manufacturing complex structures, such as cars, and they aim to put these new tools of production and innovation into the hands of teams all around the world, resulting in a sustainable path forward for the car industry and beyond.

SLM Solutions Group will work closely with Divergent to develop specific hardware and software that will enable scaling of the Divergent Manufacturing Platform to high-volume production of vehicle structures. This relationship will strongly accelerate the commercial development of each companies’ technologies and revenue growth. “We are very impressed by the rapid development and implementation of their technology in the automotive sector,” said Hans-Joachim Ihde, the chairman of the Supervisory Board and founder of SLM Solutions Group. “By working together with them, we can help to provide manufacturers with the tools to build more profitable, innovative and environmentally sustainable vehicles while dramatically reducing manufacturing capital cost and providing almost unlimited design flexibility.”

“They are a powerful, long-term strategic partner for us, working with us to provide 3D metal printing hardware and software specific to the Divergent Manufacturing Platform,” added Czinger. “We believe that this will transform the way vehicle structures are designed, engineered, manufactured and assembled.” As a leading provider of metal-based additive manufacturing technology, SLM Solutions focuses on the development, assembly and sale of machines and integrated system solutions in the field of selective laser melting, which create three-dimensional (3D) objects from metal powders. They currently employ over 320 members of staff in Germany, the U.S., Singapore, Russia, India and China. Their products are utilized worldwide, in particular from the aerospace, energy, healthcare and automotive industries.

www.slm-solutions.us, www.divergent3d.com