HP has launched a new commercial 3D printing platform called the ‘Metal Jet.’ The platform was launched on September 10th during the 2018 International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS). HP aims that their technology will be used by the commercial manufacturers to produce the final parts. Metal Jet is already adopted by manufacturing leaders GKN Powder Metallurgy and Parmatech for the factory production of production parts. Volkswagen, Wilo, Primo Medical Group and OKAY Industries are among the GKN clients.
HP claims that the Metal Jet system can provide up to 50 times more productivity at a low cost than other 3D printing methods. HP aims to be a leader in the world of additive manufacturing. Apart from the launch of Metal Jet, they have also launched the Metal Jet Production Services which will enable the rapid iteration of new 3D part designs and the high volume production of final parts as well. The production service also assists its customers to integrate Metal Jet into their long-term production roadmaps. Dion Weisler, CEO and President of HP Inc., said in an interview, “We are in the midst of a digital industrial revolution that is transforming the $12 trillion manufacturing industry. HP has helped lead this transformation by pioneering the 3D mass production of plastic parts, and we are now doubling down with HP Metal Jet, a breakthrough metals 3D printing technology.”
He further added, “The implications are huge – the auto, industrial, and medical sectors alone produce billions of metal parts each year. HP’s new Metal Jet 3D printing platform unlocks the speed, quality, and economics to enable our customers to rethink the way they design, manufacture completely, and deliver new solutions in the digital age.” The HP Metal Jet printer is the result of years of work done by the HP engineers. The printing bed is 430 x 320 x 200mm, and the printer has 4x the nozzle redundancy and 2x the print bars. This design allows greater productivity at low operation and acquisition cost when it is compared to other metals 3D printing solutions.
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HP joined hands with GKN Powder Metallurgy to deploy the Metal Jet system into their factories. These machines have already started producing final parts for industry leaders likes Volkswagen and Wilo. GKM says that they expect to print millions of production-grade parts using the HP Metal Jet system for its customers across a diverse spectrum of industries. Peter Oberparleiter, CEO of GKN Powder Metallurgy said, “We’re at the tipping point of an exciting new era from which there will be no return: the future of mass production with 3D printing. HP’s new Metal Jet technology enables us to expand our business by taking on new opportunities that were previously cost prohibitive.”
Oberparleiter further said, “Our DNA and our expertise in powder production and metal part processing using digitally networked systems will enable us to drive industrialization across the whole additive manufacturing value stream. By combining the forces of HP and GKN Powder Metallurgy, we will push the productivity and capability of our customers to unprecedented levels based on the economic and technical advantages of HP Metal Jet technology.” The Metal Jet system will be available for purchase for $399,000 USD. The shipping of the system will begin in 2020.