Sodick and Prima Industrie have signed an investment agreement in which Sodick will acquire a minority share of 9.5% in Prima Additive. The reserved capital increase means Sodick will purchase new shares issued by Prima Additive specifically for this purpose.

Prima Additive specialises in the production of industrial systems for metal additive manufacturing and other advanced laser technologies. The agreement will also allow the development of a business alliance between the two companies, functional to the growth of the product portfolio relating to laser technologies for material processing of the two companies, focused on the field of metal additive manufacturing.

Sodick produces high-speed and high-precision machine tools – including EDM and milling – as well as the production of systems for metal additive manufacturing and hybrid systems that combine additive and removal processes. Sodick also has a large customer base and sales network in the field of precision machinery around the world, particularly in Asia.

Prima Additive specialises in systems for metal additive manufacturing using Laser Powder Bed Fusion technology, in which Sodick is also active, Direct Energy Deposition technology, as well as other advanced laser technologies, including remote laser welding and laser hardening, processes particularly used in the automotive sector.

In addition to system development, one of Prima Additive’s greatest strengths is its application capacity tested in various industrial sectors, including automotive, aerospace, jewellery and medical. In Europe, Prima Additive actively collaborates with universities and research centres and is recognised as one of the main players in the market of laser technologies for metal additive manufacturing.

As a result of the business alliance, Prima Additive and Sodick will cooperate in the field of metal additive manufacturing systems, a sector that the two companies expect to grow in the coming years. The collaboration between the two companies will bring commercial synergies that will allow the promotion and cross-selling of the products of the two brands in the markets of Japan, Europe, US and the rest of the world.

For more information contact Francesco Tallarico of Talmac Machine Tools on 072 265 1323 or visit www.talmac.co.za