3D-printing developer Desktop Metal Inc. has acquired an Italian specialist in metal additive manufacturing for hydraulic and fluid-power system components, part of a strategy to produce 3DP end-parts for supply to OEMs. Aidro designs and produces valves, manifolds, and various other components using metal AM technologies, including finite element analysis simulation and topology optimization. It redesigns standard hydraulic components for additive manufacturing, to reduce weight, save space, and to consolidate parts to eliminate assembly and welding requirements.
The value of the purchase was not announced.
It’s the second acquisition in as many months for Desktop Metal, which designs and develops additive manufacturing systems for metal and fiber-reinforced materials, for prototyping, batch production, and volume production. It also offers design software for additive manufacturing.
In August Desktop Metal agreed to a $575-million takeover of rival The ExOne Co., which founder and CEO Ric Fulop described as an effort “to create the leading additive manufacturing portfolio for mass production.”
“This acquisition advances Desktop Metal’s strategy to support our major OEM customers with proprietary design and application know-how, as well as through a combination of best-in-class AM products and high-value parts production,” Fulop stated of the current transaction.
Aidro uses powder-bed fusion additive manufacturing to print parts in aluminum, stainless steel, and Inconel alloys. It claims to improve hydraulic and fluid-power system performance by optimizing flow-channel placement and geometry, to increase flow capacity and decrease pressure drops.
“Additive manufacturing offers benefits unmatched by conventional manufacturing, and once Aidro realized the advantages of leveraging AM, we quickly allocated resources to develop expertise and take advantage of the opportunity,” stated Valeria Tirelli, co-CEO and president. “This partnership is the next step in our AM evolution, and now, with access to Desktop Metal’s scale and industry-leading AM 2.0 technology portfolio, including its volume production-focused metal binder jetting solutions, we’re thrilled at the growth potential for Aidro.”
“We’re excited about the acquisition and look forward to advancing AM 2.0 for high-volume production of hydraulics, valves, fluid power systems, and many more end-use parts in development with Aidro,” Fulop added.