INTERVIEW WITH SLM SOLUTIONS

SLM Solutions is a global provider of integrated metal additive manufacturing solutions. Leading the industry since its inception, it continues to drive the future of metal AM in every major industry with its customers’ long-term success at its core. SLM Solutions is home to the world’s fastest metal additive manufacturing machines boasting up to 12 lasers and enabling build rates up to 1000ccm/h. With a portfolio of systems to suit every customer’s needs, along with its team of experts closely collaborating at every stage of the process, SLM Solutions leads the way on return on investment with maximum efficiency, productivity, and profitability. SLM Solutions believes that additive manufacturing is the future of manufacturing and has the desire and capability to take its customers there – right now.

SLM Solutions is a publicly-traded company headquartered in Germany, with offices in Canada, China, France, India, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States. Further information is available on www.slm-solutions.com

Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?

SLM Solutions: SLM Solutions is an industry agnostic metal AM partner excelling in AM at every angle including Aerospace and Aviation, Automotive, Energy, Healthcare, Tooling and a notable program in Academia. Most recently, our efforts have taken us to focus on the race to space, supporting our customers and partners achieve new heights in their aerospace and space programs. 

E.E: What’s the news about new products?

SLM Solutions: We are still riding the highs of our most recent hardware launch from November of 2021, the launch of the NXG XII 600. This machine is now installed and several locations, as of October 11th, we announced that our customer Divergent Technologies was accelerating with the purchase of 3 additional NXG XII 600s, bringing their install base to six! This new fleet of NXG XII 600s will join their current install base of seven SLM®500 systems, three SLM®280 systems, and one SLM®125 system. We are also making advancements in software with the launch of Free Float. Free Float’s unique technology drastically reduces support structures and makes build times faster than any technology of its kind-all while enhancing part quality. 

E.E: What are the ranges of products?

SLM Solutions: Our product portfolio is compatible with the efforts and interests of our customers and partners. Need fine feature detail? We have a printer for that. Need the epitome of productivity? We have a printer for that as well. Our product portfolio is pushed by the goals and achievements of our install base. 

E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?

SLM Solutions: Every industry is on a different path to the adoption and implementation of metal AM. There is no right way to get to the end goal. At SLM Solutions, we want to alleviate the stress by being the right partner from the very beginning to building a continuous journey of true AM partnership. 

E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?

SLM Solutions: Aerospace is the hot topic right now, especially in the US. That being said, we have a diverse partner base that we continuously support with our technology. 

E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?

SLM Solutions: The many attractive features of the NXG XII 600 can actually be retrofitted into our current product portfolio so our customers and partners can trade in and trade up their technology in order to take advantage should they have a legacy system that is still a powerhouse. 

E.E: What estimations do you have for 2022?

SLM Solutions: We’re ready for another exciting year celebrating a key milestone of over 700 printers installed globally with 500 lasers operating in a quad configuration. We believe 2022 will continue to be laser hot in regards to the aerospace industry and driving towards more opportunities for serial production in automotive. 

https://www.slm-solutions.com