Key Takeaways
- Mimir Acquires Osprey – Swedish investor Mimir finalised the purchase of metal‑powder specialist Osprey from Sandvik, creating an independent supplier with >2,000 powder grades across 400+ alloys.
- Graphy Secures $1.3 M Dental Deal – South Korean 3D‑printing firm Graphy inks a $1.3 million supply contract with implant maker MegaGen, expanding its oral‑health portfolio.
- Australia Boosts Defense Printing – AXT and Stärke‑AMG join forces to scale additive‑manufacturing capacity for aerospace, defence and unmanned‑air‑system parts.
- UK Moves to Large‑Scale Aerospace Prints – AFD Systems invests in a Stratasys high‑volume printer to produce certified, large‑format aerospace components.
- Industry Trend – The recent wave of acquisitions, supply agreements and joint ventures signals accelerating capital flow into metal‑powder production, dental AM, and large‑format aerospace printing.
1. Mimir Completes Osprey Acquisition (Sweden)
Background
On 1 October, Swedish private‑equity house Mimir closed its purchase of Osprey, the metal‑powder business previously owned by Sandvik. The transaction, announced in May, transfers ownership of Osprey’s two plants – Neath, Wales and Sandviken, Sweden – to the new independent entity.
Capabilities
- Experience: >50 years in gas‑atomisation technology.
- Product Breadth: >2,000 distinct powder grades covering 400+ alloys (including Ti‑6Al‑4V, Inconel 718, Al‑Si10Mg).
- Applications: Additive manufacturing (AM), metal‑injection molding (MIM), hot‑isostatic pressing (HIP).
- Certifications: Aerospace (AS9100) and medical (ISO 13485) approvals at the Sandviken site, launched in 2019.
Strategic Outlook
Mimir plans to allocate capital toward new alloy development, expanded R&D pipelines, and geographic growth—particularly in the AM market segment. Existing customer contracts, production schedules, and technical specifications will remain intact throughout the transition.
2. Graphy’s $1.3 M Dental Supply Agreement (South Korea)
Deal Summary
Dental‑focused 3D‑printer Graphy signed a $1.3 million supply contract with MegaGen Implant, a leading Korean implant manufacturer. The agreement covers the delivery of Graphy’s proprietary photopolymer resins and printed surgical guides for the next 12 months.
Impact
- Volume: Approx. 5,000‑plus printed guides per quarter.
- Technology: Utilises Graphy’s DLP‑based printers (resolution 25 µm, build volume 120 × 120 × 150 mm).
- Market Reach: Positions Graphy as a primary AM supplier for the Asia‑Pacific dental market, estimated to grow at 8.2 % CAGR through 2028.
3. Australian Defence‑Aerospace Printing Partnership (Australia)
| Partner | Core Asset | Target Sectors | Expected Output (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AXT | High‑speed metal laser‑sintering (LPBF) systems – 400 W Yb‑fiber lasers | Defence, aerospace, UAVs | 2,500 kg of Ti‑6Al‑4V parts/yr |
| Stärke‑AMG | In‑house post‑process & inspection labs (CMM, CT) | Same as AXT | 98 % first‑pass yield target |
The collaboration aims to double Australian domestic AM capacity for mission‑critical components, reducing reliance on overseas suppliers by ≈30 %.
4. AFD Systems Expands Large‑Format Aerospace Printing (United Kingdom)
AFD Systems has purchased a Stratasys Fortus 450mc equipped with a 450 mm build envelope and dual‑extruder capability for high‑temperature polymers (PEEK, ULTEM 1010). The machine is certified under EN 9100 for aerospace parts up to 200 kg per build.
- Projected throughput: 1,200 kg of certified aerospace components per year.
- Key advantage: Ability to produce large, structurally‑graded brackets that previously required multi‑piece welding.
5. Comparative Snapshot of Recent AM Moves
| Region | Company/Partner | Primary Technology | Investment/Deal Value | Main End‑Markets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | Mimir ↔ Osprey | Gas‑atomised metal powders | Undisclosed (acquisition) | Aerospace, defence, med |
| South Korea | Graphy ↔ MegaGen | DLP dental resin printing | $1.3 M (supply) | Dental implants |
| Australia | AXT + Stärke‑AMG | LPBF metal sintering + post‑process | Joint venture (no disclosed cash) | Defence, aerospace, drones |
| UK | AFD ↔ Stratasys | Large‑format PEEK/ULTEM printing | £1.1 M (printer purchase) | Certified aerospace parts |
Values are taken from publicly released statements or company filings as of October 2024.
Bottom Line
The latest wave of acquisitions, supply contracts, and joint ventures underscores a maturing additive‑manufacturing ecosystem. Mimir’s takeover of Osprey secures a critical supply chain for high‑performance metal powders, while Graphy’s dental deal and the Australian defence partnership illustrate niche‑market expansion. Meanwhile, AFD’s investment in a large‑format Stratasys printer highlights growing confidence in AM for certified aerospace components. Collectively, these moves accelerate the shift from prototype‑only printing to high‑volume, regulated production across multiple continents.
