APWORKS, SAP & Heraeus join to support Distributed Manufacturing platform, Scalmalloy development
In an effort to accelerate the adoption and integration of additive manufacturing into supply chains, SAP, APWORKS and Heraeus are partnering to support SAP Distributed Manufacturing, a cloud-based collaborative platform launched last year that connects users with 3D printing services, material suppliers, certification specialists and more.
As part of the collaboration, APWORKS, a recent subsidiary of Premium AEROTEC specializing in engineering and manufacturing consulting, has integrated its AMXpert platform into the SAP software. The innovative AMXpert tool, presented at Hannover Messe this past April, enables users to identify which parts would be benefitted by metal 3D printing.
“Through this collaboration, we—together with SAP and the Manufacturing Network—have taken the next logical step towards industrializing metallic 3D printing,” explained Sven Lauxmann, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at APWORKS. “By working as a team, we have developed a way for customers to test mass data for printability and to bring together the experts and the customers on the virtual platform. Worth noting here is a self-learning database, which is used primarily to intelligently assess printability, orientation, and thus costs.”
In other words, the AMXpert integration in SAP Distributed Manufacturing gives businesses the tools they need to determine whether a particular part would be well suited for metal AM without having to expend the resources and funds to test it physically. Customers can expect to have access to the new tool (with numerous materials) in a few weeks time.
Heraeus, the German technology company with expertise in specialty metals, comes into the partnership as the new sales and cooperation partner for APWORKS GmbH. Together, the companies will further develop and commercialize Scalmalloy®, the first metal material developed specifically for additive manufacturing technology and is recognized as the highest strength printable aluminum alloy currently on the market.
“Together with APWORKS, our goal is to commercialize Scalmalloy®, to find new potential uses, and to generate interest for the product in various different industries,” said Tobias Caspari, the Head of Heraeus Additive Manufacturing. “We aim to show everything that is possible with a material like Scalmalloy® and with 3D printing in general. The cooperation with SAP Distributed Manufacturing is an important element in achieving this goal.”
Based in Hanau, Germany, Heraeus’ AM division specializes in the development, manufacturing and validation of metal powders for the AM market. With its equipment, expertise and resources, the company seems like an ideal partner for further pursuing and developing Scalmalloy®. APWORKS also has established partnerships with aluminum manufacturer TOYAL and metal powder producer LPW Technology to further develop and promote the AM-specific material.
