Wednesday, April 24, 2019
3D METAL INDUSTRIE: Combining age-old traditions with the latest technology.
Known since ancient times, foundry is one of the first human professions. According to historians, the first objects made of molten copper were produced in Anatolia around 5,000 BC. 7,000 years later, 7 foundries have combined their perfect mastery of this technology and their respective know-how to project the foundry into a promising future with the creation of 3D METAL INDUSTRIE.
The project originated in 2015 as an initiative by some twenty foundries in the Ardennes in partnership with the public authorities and professional organisations with the slogan: "grouped foundries, tenfold performance". The general idea is to propose collective actions aimed at supporting the entire value chain of the companies. One of the components of this "progress plan" was specifically interested in the technological development of the regional foundry.
Quite quickly, the industrialists around the table agreed that it would be relevant to take a collective interest in additive printing. Platinium 3D, (a technological and scientific platform dedicated to obtaining metal parts using additive manufacturing processes) was thus created. This first step allowed them to share an additive printing machine, to carry out R&D work and, above all, to gradually adopt the technology.
The idea of moving towards "3D Sand" quickly became obvious. In fact, unlike so-called "traditional" 3D, which allows parts to be produced, with "3D Sable" moulds or cores are produced.
The strength of the concept is that it is impossible to dissociate the 3D process from the know-how of the foundryman. This combination allows the production of simple or complex parts in a reduced timeframe; it is also economically efficient and flexible since it allows the production of one or more foundry parts without tooling costs. In other words, a double breakthrough: technological and economic.
A new offer can thus be proposed to foundry customers. Hence the natural evolution towards the creation of a new entity insofar as the role of a technical centre such as Platinium 3D stops at this stage of the project's evolution.
Thus, the SAS "3D METAL INDUSTRIE" has just been created: an entity with a share capital of 440,000 euros constituted by 7 industrialists (*) and the UIMM Champagne-Ardenne, which plans a total investment of 1,259,000 euros, in particular devoted to the acquisition of a SMAX Furane machine, a technological solution proposed by ExOne and having a capacity of 1800 x 1000 x 700.
As of May 2019, 3D METAL INDUSTRIE will be able to offer its services to customers in the automotive (light and heavy vehicles), aeronautics and rail markets, as well as in the "after market": a response adapted to the need to reproduce old parts whose tooling has disappeared or is unusable.
The turnover expected within 5 years is estimated at 1 million euros thanks to this collaborative and networked work of the creators of 3D METAL INDUSTRIE who are based on an effective principle: "no matter what the entrance door, the customer will find the solution"!
It should be noted that the solution is not closed to its shareholders alone: other foundrymen will be able to use it.
The multi-millennial foundry has definitely managed to adapt to the times!
(*) The founders of 3D METAL INDUSTRIE, chaired by Renaud MIGNOLET (RM TECHNOLOGIES)
La Fonte Ardennaise
BOUHYER GROUP - BEROUDIAUX Foundry
VIGNON Foundry
NICOLAS Foundry
ROLLINGER Foundry
Rocroyenne Aluminium Foundry
RM TECHNOLOGIES
UIMM CHAMPAGNE-ARDENNE.
Editor : Anne DE LANSALUT