KEX Knowledge Exchange AG, in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institutes for Production Technology IPT and for Laser Technology ILT and with other partners from the scientific community, founded the ACAM Aachen Center of Additive Manufacturing. The aim of the new Additive Manufacturing Center is enabling manufacturing companies – from corporations over to small and medium enterprises – to take advantage of this technology and use it in a profitable way for their production processes.
Can companies master the various challenges, such as a fundamentally new component design or the development of new, faster and more accurate processes and facilities by using additive manufacturing processes? At the RWTH Aachen Campus this resulted in a new company that uses the strength of the expert community in this area of technology: On September 23rd occurred the foundation event of the ACAM Aachen Center of Additive Manufacturing GmbH, which was well attended by more than 100 interested parties.
Additive manufacturing: only together successful
Strategic partners such as the Aachen-based Fraunhofer Institutes for Production Technology IPT and for Laser Technology ILT play an important role at ACAM. For Professor Günther Schuh, Board member of the Fraunhofer IPT, the focus lies hereby on the creation of a network that shows the different parties important paths along an additive manufacturing roadmap. Hereby, the approximately 30 years of experience with project-oriented research collaborations should be of important help, as stated the director of Fraunhofer ILT, professor Reinhart Poprawe.
Both ACAM managing directors, also research associates at the Fraunhofer Institutes IPT and ILT, bring different motivations along. Dr. Kristian Arntz (Fraunhofer IPT) is thrilled about the idea of the underlying center concept. “We approach the subject holistically – from project development, training and feasibility studies to consulting, so as to develop knowledge within an AM-community”. Dr. Johannes Witzel (Fraunhofer ILT) focusses on the potential of the “unique combination of worldwide active and renowned big institutes”.
Offer of cooperation
Companies can take part in the ACAM community by becoming center partners, whereby the annually costs vary from 12 000 € (Basic), 40 000 € (Business) up to specific amounts which result from individually negotiated cooperation contracts. The companies that settle at the Campus of the RWTH Aachen University can offer its employees something special. Dr. Arntz: “The employees of this companies can take part in the initial and further training of the RWTH Aachen University and are directly involved in the university environment”. ACAM is planning a customized concept regarding specific training. Dr. Witzel: “Together with the RWTH Aachen University, we will establish an extensive range of seminars which are matching the needs of the industry as of 2016. In the long term we strive to offer a qualified, certified degree – therefore a Master or Bachelor course on the topic additive manufacturing”.
Strategic partners of the ACAM Aachen Center for Additive Manufacturing
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