Oerlikon AM, the Additive Manufacturing unit of global technology group Oerlikon, and Hirtenberger Engineered Services announced at Formnext a strategic alliance to further industrialize series production and prototype parts using the Hirtisation Process.
Oerlikon AM and Hirtenberger began working together early this year to evaluate the Hirtisation Process, a post-processing technology for Additive Manufacturing that allows three-dimensional surface treatment, including the removal of support structures and automatization of the post-processing steps.
The two companies are intensifying their collaboration and have created a joint working group to explore how the process can be integrated into the AM value chain. The new process results in smoother surface textures. It also allows for the production of complex parts that require interior support structures during production, but which need those structures removed after completion, without impacting the integrity of the part.
Additionally, Oerlikon AM and Hirtenberger Engineered Surfaces are working on applying the Hirtisation Process to the prototyping business, which is expected to improve productivity by eliminating extra finishing steps.
