Concept Laser lays foundation for additive manufacturing of tomorrow

GE and Concept Laser have layed the foundation for a new facility in Lichtenfels, Germany. In the future, the 3D Campus will unite research and development along with production, service, and logistics. The new offices should be ready for move-in early 2019, and around 40,000 m² will provide room for about 500 employees. The future machine production capacity will be four times higher than today. Its machines can make car and airplane parts, for example. This will make Concept Laser’s Lichtenfels facility a global GE center for the production of 3D metal printing machines. About €105m will be invested into the location. Additive manufacturing (also called 3D printing) involves taking digital designs from computer aided design (CAD) software, and building them on an additive machine, layer by layer from metal powder. Additive components are typically lighter, more durable and more efficient than traditional casting and forged parts because they can be made as one piece, requiring less welds, joints and assembly. Because additive parts are essentially “grown” from the ground up, they generate far less waste material. Freed of traditional manufacturing restrictions, additive manufacturing dramatically expands the design possibilities for engineers. Additive manufacturing is a transformative technology – part of the new world of advanced manufacturing. Combined with an entirely new approach to industrial design, additive can help transform businesses by improving their products, manufacturing operations and opening up entirely new business models.