Powder metals facility for 3D printing to open in the UK

An initial £10 million is being invested to set up the Liberty Powder Metals business including a vacuum induction inert gas atomiser at its core.

The facility is designed to achieve the highest-quality stainless steel and superalloy powders, helping Liberty to enhance its status in a global market estimated to be worth £8 billion a year.

Alongside the atomiser, there are plans to install a range of sieving, blending, packaging and analytical equipment.

The atomiser will allow Liberty to develop a new generation of powdered steels that can overcome the traditional barriers to 3D printing and enhance Liberty’s position in the supply chain for precision steel components used in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, energy and specialist industrial equipment.

ASL alongside partner Consarc Engineering has designed the equipment while K-Home International, a globally experienced engineering specialist, is managing the installation at the Materials Processing Institute.

Being located on the institute campus will give Liberty Powder Metals easy access to both state-of-the-art research facilities and the expertise based there.

General manager for Liberty Powder Metals, Dr Simon Pike, said: “We are grateful to our partners for the work they have done to reach this stage. Finance from Tees Valley Combined Authority has been critical in making the project a reality and I look forward to continuing all our partnerships to make Teesside a global-leading centre of expertise for powder metal production.”

Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor added: “The start of construction of Liberty Powder Metals new Teesside facility is a significant milestone in a project that will put our region at the forefront of a revolutionary new industry.

“We invested £4.6 million in this ground-breaking project because we could see just how important the high-grade metal powders Liberty will produce will be. By investing in new technologies, we’re staying ahead of the curve and creating the jobs for future industries.

Commissioning will take place from December with the aim of producing powders for sale from March 2020.

www.libertyhousegroup.com