Outokumpu is entering the metal powder business for additive manufacturing. The Finnish manufacturer opened a new atomisation plant in Germany in April.
Text & images by Outokumpu
Metal powders used for additive manufacturing are revolutionising the industry by boosting production capabilities through innovation and sustainability. Outokumpu, a leading producer of sustainable stainless steel, entered this new business by starting to produce metal powder at the company’s mill in Krefeld, Germany in April 2023. Metal powder production further strengthens Outokumpu’s ambitious sustainability strategy and circular economy efforts by using the steel scrap from local production to create new solutions for the market.
“The global demand for metal powder is on the rise and we see great potential for the business in the near future. We have seen the growth of additive manufacturing industries and the potential to strengthen the position and use of stainless steel for metal powder products, and therefore decided to start the construction of a newly designed atomisation plant. Outokumpu has extensive expertise in materials and will partner with interested powder customers. There is already a great interest among customers and the first projects have started,” says Thomas Anstots, President of BL Advanced materials at Outokumpu.
Unique metal powder range
Outokumpu’s primary focus is on producing metal powders that are not yet on the market – suited for companies that use technologies such as Additive Manufacturing (AM), Metal Injection Moulding (MIM), Binder Jetting (BJ) and Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) to produce parts for demanding applications. With metal powders, manufacturers can produce parts with higher complexity, less weight and decreased lead times, avoiding disruptions in the supply chain.
“In the near future, the estimated total production capacity will be approximately 330 tons annually. Our longer-term target is to utilise the learnings and to build up our R&D know-how to support the customer journey with expertise, new material development, flexibility and customisation for various powder metallurgy technologies. In our future vision, we could be able to serve our customers in such a way that they could come to us with a problem and leave with a solution,” Anstots continues.
Atomization plant as recycling unit
Outokumpu’s business is based on the circular economy. The company’s stainless steel has the highest recycled material content rate – in 2022, the company achieved a record-high rate of 94%. Outokumpu’s stainless steel is also the single most recycled material globally, and the company’s mills in Europe and the US are among the largest material recycling facilities in the world.
“We want to help our customers to reduce climate burden through the right material choices. I’m proud of the fact that our new atomisation plant in Krefeld will be a large recycling unit to support the circular economy further. The embodied carbon footprint of our whole production process is also reduced as the raw material is generated, and the product is produced and packaged, all in one place. This ensures control of the entire process and significantly cuts down the transportation emissions too,” says Anstots.
Powder portfolio
Outokumpu’s brand new portfolio of high-quality metal powders that includes stainless steel and nickel alloys have been specially formulated to meet the demands of modern manufacturing in terms of quality, sustainability and flexibility. The company has partnered with SMS group as the technology supplier. The Equipment as a Service (EaaS) contract ensures continuous line optimisation and close collaboration in the powder business between the supplier and the producer in the coming years.
