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WAAM3D secures major investment to enable future growth
WAAM3D, a spin-out company from Cranfield University, has received major investment from Accuron Technologies, an international engineering and technology group headquartered in Singapore.
WAAM3D is commercialising wire-based additive manufacturing (WAAM) technology developed by a team at Cranfield University, led by Professor Stewart Williams. It will be rolled out into the aerospace and energy sectors, and other suitable industries.
WAAM3D has received major investment from Accuron Technologies / Picture: Cranfield University
Professor Williams, head of the welding engineering and laser processing centre at Cranfield University, said: “For more than a decade we have been researching and developing this technology; it is set to have an enormous impact on manufacturing businesses around the world. I’m delighted that we can now really start to commercialise WAAM and bring real-world products to market.”
CEO of WAAM3D, Dr Filomeno Martina, added: “There is a huge market potential for this technology, based on the interest we have been receiving from various industry sectors. We are delighted to be partnering with Accuron Technologies to bring WAAM forward. The company will bring in as many as 20 staff in the coming year to scale up operations. We also aim to keep close links with Cranfield University, as well as other institutional and industrial partners, internationally.”
WAAM can be used to produce large metal components with low cost and short production lead times. It uses an electric arc or laser to melt metal wire; is highly accurate, cost-effective, as well as environmentally-friendly with greatly reduced emissions and material consumptions.
Cranfield University has been at the forefront of WAAM research and has garnered the interest of many industry partners in this technology and won many accolades. At the 3D Printing Awards in 2019, Cranfield University and WAAM3D won the ‘aerospace or automotive application of the year’ prize. The University will continue focussing its world leading research on new processes such as NEWAM (new wire additive manufacturing) via industrial projects and grants from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
Tan Kai Hoe, president and CEO of Accuron Technologies, concluded: “We are really excited about this opportunity to invest into WAAM3D. We have been looking at several additive manufacturing technologies for a while, and we think WAAM3D’s process has a real chance to transform manufacturing.
“We are very impressed with the company’s technology and expertise, which allows it to make large, high-quality parts for real-world applications. With our capital investment and industrial knowledge, we hope to help the company realise its true potential.”