United Kingdom company LPW Technology is a provider of advanced metal powders and powder lifecycle management solutions, and today the company announced that it has been acquired by Carpenter Technology Corporation. Carpenter is a leader in high-performance specialty alloy-based materials and process solutions for critical applications in a variety of markets, including aerospace, defense, transportation, energy, industrial, medical and consumer electronics. The company has been around since 1889 and has grown with the times, specializing in premium specialty alloys such as titanium, nickel, and cobalt, as well as alloys specifically engineered for additive manufacturing.
“Our aggressive development in key aspects of Additive Manufacturing (AM) demonstrates our commitment to build on our industry-leading position in this space,” said Tony R. Thene, Carpenter’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “The acquisition combines LPW’s metal powder lifecycle management technology and processes with our technical expertise in producing highly engineered metal powders and additively manufactured components.”
Lifecycle management technology is critical in additive manufacturing; it enables manufacturers to understand how powder will behave before, during and after the additive manufacturing process. The importance of this understanding cannot be overstated; the behavior of the powder has a tremendous effect on the final outcome of the part. Metal powder can be a tricky thing to work with, and companies like LPW have proven to be invaluable by providing services that offer consistency and reduce the risk inherent in additive manufacturing.
“LPW’s innovative platforms and enabling technology further solidify Carpenter’s position as a preferred provider of end-to-end next generation Additive Manufacturing solutions,” said Phil Carroll, LPW’s founder. “I’m extremely proud of the accomplishments we’ve achieved at LPW and I’m excited to be part of Carpenter’s continued growth and leadership in AM.”
LPW employs approximately 80 people and is based in Widnes, Cheshire with additional processing operations near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company has customers around the world.
Carpenter Technology Corporation recently expanded its additive manufacturing capabilities to provide a complete “powder to part” solution to accelerate materials innovation, offer rapid prototyping, and streamline parts production. Headquartered in Pennsylvania, the company has grown to have several offices across the United States, Europe and Asia. Carpenter has two operating segments: Specialty Alloys Operations and Performance Engineered Products, and offers advanced testing capabilities including materials testing, chemical analysis and nondestructive testing.
Carpenter acquired LPW for approximately $81 million. Carpenter has been busy lately, acquiring titanium powders producer Puris as well as CalRAM, a leader in electron beam and laser powder-bed fusion additive manufacturing services. Carpenter also constructed an Emerging Technology Center in Athens, Alabama, signifying its commitment to advancing additive manufacturing and other technologies.
LPW is currently attending the Fall 2018 Additive Manufacturing Consortium (AMC) meeting, which is taking place in Huntersville, North Carolina on October 24th and October 25th.
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