Z3DLAB & InssTek Partner for Metal 3D Printing of South Korean Military Jet Parts & Medical Implants

Have you ever wondered what the result would be if you crossed South Korea’s InssTEK with France’s Z3DLAB? Why, that might just be the beginning of a new world in hard-core strength aeronautics components, some very happy military mechanics, as well as patients sporting some mighty strong medical implants—all to a degree previously unprecedented.

And in fact as the two companies do indeed bring together Korean and French business, there’s nowhere to go but straight up with powerful new materials—and that most likely also applies to future of their clients’ satisfaction around the world too. Relying on Z3DLAB’s flagship metal composite material for additive manufacturing, ZTi-Powder, a wicked combo of titanium and zirconia, they will be working to pump out the metal parts for the F-15K fighter jets belonging to the main fleet of the South Korean Air Force.

With the ZTi-Powder material from Z3DLAB, InssTek will also have access to a new, nontoxic version for metal coating on orthopedic implants. With metal coatings, InssTek is already able to produce a 3D ‘array of pores’ or a lattice, which promotes bone growth after the implant is inserted, assuring stability of the device for a very long time. Previously, these implants were coated with both sintering and plasma spraying. Upon the advent of direct metal tooling and 3D printing, numerous benefits are being offered in both strength and porosity.

Z3DLAB has also announced that they will be releasing ZTi-Med, a nontoxic 3D metal printer specifically for use with the aforementioned new and special coatings. It is expected to be on the market by 2020.

The partnering of these two companies is important at the border. With the use of superior metal components for their air force, South Korea will be able to continue to maintain their military planes which are constantly in use, ever vigilant, monitoring the other side, along a 240 km long strip of land.

As pointed out in their latest press release, the two companies state that there could hardly be a military installation more crucial, and strategic. That they trust the integrity of their planes’ parts to the metal 3D printer speaks volumes for the technology, and its future. With the self-sustainability offered, maintaining of components becomes much easier and affordable, with much greater longevity.

“Immobilization of planes on the ground is one of the costliest factors in the supply chain,” states Z3DLAB in their latest press release. “Repair chains are vital in the supply chain as all of them are in full production capacity.”

And as for metal 3D printing in medical devices, Z3DLAB warns:

“Be ready for the next generation of cutting edge implants.”

While pointing out that TA6V in previous years for use in implants has had issues in terms of toxicity due to its makeup containing 6% of Aluminum and 4% of Vanadium (both toxic for humans) and is closed to the measure of elasticity GPa for bones comparably, the ratio/benefits will change substantially with a new feedstock like the ZTi-Med 3D printer.

InssTek, founded in 2001 has been involved in 3D printing for many years, originally established for works in 3D metal printing around the world. They provide new solutions for customers, as well as those that are user-friendly, in a customized 3D metal printing process spanning from design to manufacturing of products.

Z3DLAB is a company we’ve reported on previously as they arrived on the scene with their revolutionary ZTi-Powder, premiering in the world of 3D printing. With a team comprised of engineers, they pride themselves on constantly bringing new products to their clients around the globe. Discuss further over in the ZTI-Powder for Metal 3D Printing forum over at 3DPB.com.