GKN Sinter Metals announced that the first additive manufacturing (AM) machine in the automotive industry to enable series production of precision parts for engines and transmissions has started production at its plant in Radevormwald, Germany.

The machine, dubbed MetalFAB1, is 6.5 meters long, 1.9 meters wide and 2.5 meters tall. It's the first Additive Manufacturing machine in the automotive industry to enable series production of precision parts for engines and transmissions.

GKN Sinter Metals will use the MetalFAB1 to produce small and medium-sized series of complex automotive components for the original equipment and replacement parts markets. Customers include most of the leading automakers and their system suppliers. The MetalFAB1 can simultaneously print hundreds of parts in one batch, meaning on one single build plate. Simon Hoeges, GKN AM director, said: "Depending on how many data sets we feed into the MetalFAB1, these can be 300 identical or 300 different parts. This gives us unprecedented production capacity and flexibility."

The integrated and automated 3D printer with highest productivity through multiple lasers is manufactured by the Dutch company Additive Industries b.v. In a joint development program, the technology is further optimized for the needs of the automotive industry.

With the MetalFAB1, GKN Sinter Metals is in a position to offer its customers all around the world complex and creative product solutions in next to no time.