Materials Solutions Inks Strategic Investment Deal With Siemens Venture Capital

Materials Solutions Limited is a specialist in additive manufacturing of nickel superalloy components for gas turbines used in land-based and aeronautical engines and specialist steels and titanium components for aeronautics systems and motor sports.

The company operates one of the world’s biggest commercially available metals additive manufacturing centers in Worcester, UK. With a global customer base, the company is AS9100 certified for aerospace applications and they boast multiple customer approvals for their supply of AM parts.

The company has now formalized a strategic investment package with the Venture Capital Unit of Siemens (SVC).

“I am extremely pleased that SVC has chosen to invest in Materials Solutions,” says Carl Brancher, the founder and CEO of Materials Solutions. “I believe this investment validates Materials Solutions as the global technology leader in additive manufacturing of nickel superalloys.”

According to Brancher, Materials Solutions has been at the forefront of the field since 2006.

“Materials Solutions has developed high performance materials and manufacturing processes for laser powder bed additive manufacturing particularly targeting gas turbine applications,” he adds. “Our capabilities in additive manufacturing reduce development time and improve new product performance for our customers.”

The Venture Capital Unit of Siemens is the corporate venture capital wing of the company, and it invests in early-stage technology companies as well as established technology growth companies. The venture capital unit focuses on investments in energy, healthcare, industry, infrastructure and cities, and energy markets. The unit thus plays a key role in Siemens’ global innovation network.

“There are now strong signs that Additive Manufacturing will move into mainstream production for land and aero gas turbine components,” says Ralf Schnell, the CEO of the Venture Capital Unit of Siemens. “Materials Solutions are outstanding in capability and experience, and we will support their expansion.”

They say the aim is to identify innovative solutions which will allow Siemens – and its customers – to profit and to strengthen business partnerships with innovative industry players.

The Venture Capital Unit of Siemens has invested in nearly 180 startup companies located around the world since 1999.

“My team and I are very excited about the huge benefit for Siemens’ Additive Manufacturing Industrialization Strategy resulting from this strategic collaboration,” says Andreas Fischer-Ludwig, the Director Manufacturing Development & Industrialization for the Siemens Large Gas Turbines and Generators Business Unit.

Markus Seibold, the head of Enabling Manufacturing Technologies at the Siemens Large Gas Turbines and Generators Business Unit, cites familiarity with the work of Materials Solutions as key to the deal.

“We know the people at Materials Solutions well, and they provide strong support for the introduction of additive manufacturing into our large gas turbines and distributed power generation products,” Seibold says.

Terms of the investment arrangement were not announced.

What do you think of this infusion of capital from into UK-based Materials Solutions? Let us know in the Materials Solutions and Siemens Venture Capital forum thread on 3DPB.com.