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.
