GENERAL NEWS
RPD ® process qualifies for Airbus production
Norsk Titanium , a global specialist in additive manufacturing for aerospace-grade structural titanium components using its patented Rapid Plasma Deposition ® technology , has announced qualification and initial production for Airbus . As part of its multi-year collaboration with Airbus , Norsk Titanium successfully qualified its Merke IV ® machine and the Rapid Plasma Deposition ® ( RPD ®) process for Airbus production .
Premium Aerotec in Varel Germany , an Airbus subsidiary , has placed an order for an initial structural part , and Norsk Titanium is currently completing delivery of the first order .
The first additively manufactured preforms delivered by Norsk have now been machined , qualified and installed into an A350 assembly .
Norsk Titanium is a global specialist in metal 3D printing , a clean and sustainable manufacturing process , via its proprietary Rapid Plasma Deposition ® ( RPD ®) technology and 700 MT of production capacity .
“ RPD ® technology uses significantly less raw material , energy and time than traditional energy-intensive forming methods . This presents customers with an opportunity to better manage input costs , logistics and environmental impact . RPD ® -printed parts are already flying on commercial aircraft ,” the manufacturer told ISMR . n
www . norsktitanium . com
Robotics and automation rise in Germany
The robotics and automation industry in Germany is forecasting a 4 % increase in turnover for 2024 . According to the latest figures from the VDMA Robotics + Automation Association ( VDMA R + A ) in Germany , industry sales will rise to 16.8- billion euros ( a new record high ).
Frank Konrad , Chairman , VDMA R A , commented : “ The positive forecast for 2024 shows that robotics and automation will remain on course for growth , despite an environment characterised by considerable uncertainty . Our industry plays a crucial role as a key technology in overcoming a wide range of challenges such as demographic change , the transformation to climate neutrality and the strengthening of resilience and competitiveness . We are optimistic that the innovative strength of our member companies will contribute to successfully mastering these challenges .”
The VDMA represents more than 3,600 German and European mechanical and plant engineering companies . The companies employ around three million people in the EU-27 , more than 1.2 million of them in Germany alone . This makes mechanical and plant engineering the largest employer among the capital goods industries , both in the EU-27 and in Germany . In the European Union , it represents a turnover volume of an estimated 860 billion euros .
The VDMA Robotics + Automation Association ( VDMA R + A ) is a trade
association within the umbrella of the VDMA , with more than 380 member companies : suppliers of components and systems such as robotics , integrated assembly solutions and machine vision . n
www . vdma . org / robotics-automation
Frank Konrad .
Used machinery market stays stable in 2023
In 2023 , the European economy was impacted by high energy prices and inflation . Interest rate hikes by the ECB and general economic uncertainty further dampened investment readiness . Nevertheless , the trade in used machinery remained stable . The reasons for this , said auction house Surplex , are manifold .
“ This sector has been particularly booming since the COVID-19 pandemic ,” outlined
Above ( L to R ): The Surplex management team : Uli Stalter , Ghislaine Duijmelings and Michael Werker .
Ghislaine Duijmelings , one of the managing directors at Surplex . “ On our platform , we conducted almost 10 % more auctions with used machinery compared to the previous year and accordingly sold more machines and equipment . The reasons for this in 2023 were manifold but , above all , our stable prices played a role despite high energy costs and inflation .
“ The impact of energy prices was also reflected in our customer surveys . At the beginning of 2023 , almost a third of our customers cited high energy prices as the biggest burden on their businesses . A shift in priorities became apparent in the summer : in a subsequent survey , high energy prices dropped to third place , while the shortage of skilled workers and inflation were perceived as more pressing issues ,” she continued .
Duijmelings added : “ In 2023 , used machines were barely affected by rising costs . On
Surplex . com , the average price increase from the previous year was just 0.5 %.”
This modest increase is in stark contrast to the inflation-induced price hikes on many other products . The price of a used machine mainly depends upon factors such as its type , manufacturer , age , demand and availability . In contrast , prices for new machines are primarily influenced by the increased costs of materials and energy .
“ To counteract high inflation , the European Central Bank ( ECB ) incrementally raised the key interest rate throughout 2023 . Elevated capital costs dampened the willingness to invest . Those who still invested did so with a focus on cost efficiency . This trend benefitted the used machinery market , as used machines are more affordable ,” added the auction house . n
www . surplex . com / en /
ISMR February 2024 | ismr . net | 7