On May 29, 2026, Sandvik announced it had signed an agreement to divest its Additive Manufacturing business unit to Mimir, a Sweden-based global investment firm. The business unit, reported under Sandvik’s Machining business area, produces metal powders for applications such as additive manufacturing, metal injection molding, and hot isostatic pressing, as well as controlled expansion alloys for specialized industrial applications.
The move marks what is effectively the end of Sandvik’s active presence in the additive manufacturing space.
This divestment doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has been following Sandvik’s trajectory in AM. The company has been gradually stepping back from the sector since at least 2024, when it announced its intention to sell its minority stake in Italian AM service bureau BEAMIT. Sandvik had initially taken a 30% stake in BEAMIT in 2019, aiming to establish itself in the components manufacturing space alongside its metal powder expertise. But by 2024, it had pivoted, choosing to scale down its AM strategy to core areas like metal powders, a focus that itself is now being handed off.
Prior to the BEAMIT exit, Sandvik had also been active on the materials innovation front, launching products such as a hot-work tool steel for both AM and conventional manufacturing and a copper-based alloy designed for AM and MIM. These product launches, in hindsight, look more like the final expressions of a portfolio being prepared for sale rather than signs of long-term commitment to the space.
What Sandvik says and what it means
In the official announcement, Sandvik’s President and CEO Stefan Widing framed the divestment as an opportunity for the AM business to enter its “next growth phase” under a new owner with dedicated focus. It’s a carefully worded statement. It positions the exit as strategic rather than reactive, and it leaves the door open for the business to thrive.
Financially, the transaction will result in an impairment loss of approximately SEK 230 million, mainly related to property, plant and equipment, with no cash impact. The deal is expected to close in Q3 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
What it means for the industry
Sandvik’s full exit may confirm that industrial conglomerates are increasingly reluctant to carry AM businesses that require dedicated investment and focus without delivering returns at the scale they expect.
The AM powder market remains competitive, with specialized players, from established names to emerging challengers, better positioned to serve it with the agility and focus that a company like Sandvik structurally cannot offer as a side business.
The more important question is whether Mimir, as a financial investor, will provide the strategic direction the business needs, or whether this is simply a transitional step before another ownership change. The AM industry has seen enough of those to warrant some caution.
What is clear is that Sandvik, once one of the most recognizable names in metal AM materials, has now formally closed that chapter.
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