Praxair Surface Technologies Announces Winners of TruForm Additive Manufacturing Grant

Praxair Surface Technologies (PST) is a leading supplier of metal powders to the additive manufacturing industry. Its powders include cobalt-, copper-, iron-, nickel- and titanium-based alloys, which are marketed under the TruForm brand. TruForm powders are gas atomized and made especially for the additive manufacturing industry, and Praxair is dedicated to supporting the additive manufacturing industry overall. Recently, the company announced that it would be awarding a limited number of in-kind grants to selected North American universities involved in additive manufacturing.

The grant recipients will receive Praxair’s TruForm powder for 3D printing, as well as material testing and consultation from the Praxair team. The grant was announced in November, and this week Praxair announced the winners.

“Today we are pleased to announce the winners of the TruForm AMbition Grant,” said Andy Shives, Business Manager for Additive Manufacturing at PST. “There were so many excellent applicants, we’re thrilled to announce more than five recipients.”

The following universities were named as recipients of the grant:

• Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
• University of Dayton
• University of Louisville
• University of Pittsburgh
• Pennsylvania State University
• Oklahoma State University-Stillwater

“As a leading supplier of metal powder for additive manufacturing, we want to invest more in technology development to help grow the next generation of engineers,” said Dean Hackett, Praxair Surface Technologies Vice President of Advanced Materials & Equipment. “By offering our materials and other resources, we hope to support this exciting technology.”

The winning projects involved multiple 3D printing technologies, including laser powder bed, directed energy deposition and binder jetting. Praxair Surface Technologies will partner with the additive manufacturing programs at the selected universities to assist with analysis of microstructure effects and to improve process parameters and part properties using the company’s wide variety of metal alloys.

Getting 3D printing programs into colleges and universities has been a pressing issue, and it’s encouraging to see industry leaders partnering with additive manufacturing programs in schools to support them and further their research. 3D printing is important at every level of education, but it’s industrial additive manufacturing that colleges and universities need to prioritize as they train students to enter into the workforce of the future. Metal additive manufacturing is an expensive technology, so schools can benefit greatly from assistance from companies like Praxair Surface Technologies.

“Each day, more and more universities are incorporating metal additive manufacturing courses into their curricula,” said Shives. “We want to support growth in additive manufacturing projects within the academic community and believe that these grants will provide many new opportunities for students and teachers alike.”

Praxair Inc, of which Praxair Surface Technologies is a division, is one of the largest industrial gas companies in the world, employing more than 26,000 people across the world. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, as well as surface coatings, to a range of industries including healthcare, aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, manufacturing, and more.

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