There’s nothing more rewarding than witnessing an ambitious project come to life. Two years ago, Global Advanced Metals and Croom Medical unveiled plans to develop a tantalum-based additive manufacturing platform—a bold move, given that tantalum is far from a common material in 3D printing applications.
Fast forward to 2025: TALOS™ is born: a technology platform built for 3D printing tantalum components across a range of industries, such as medical, using advanced laser powder bed fusion technology.
As a reminder, tantalum is known for its biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, and mechanical strength , making it ideal for medical implants. However, its processing challenges have historically limited its widespread use. The TALOS™ platform overcomes these obstacles, enabling the production of complex, porous, strong, and lightweight tantalum structures for medical device and industrial applications.
Dr. Shane Keaveney, R&D Manager at Croom Medical, highlighted the significance of this advancement. “Tantalum has long been valued for its outstanding biointegration, corrosion resistance, and mechanical properties. With TALOS™, we unlock these intrinsic qualities, allowing precise control over implant ductility and strength to closely match native bone.”
Key facts about TALOS™
We can’t wait for Croom Medical to share real applications achieved with this platform. In the meantime, here is what you should know:
A standout feature of TALOS™ is its ability to directly print tantalum onto titanium substrates, merging titanium’s lower density with tantalum’s osteoconductive prowess . This hybrid approach holds the potential for implants with enhanced bone fixation, representing a significant step forward in reducing the need for revision surgeries.
Sustainability is a core aspect of the TALOS™ platform. It uses ethically sourced, conflict-free tantalum powder supplied by GAM, supporting a closed-loop recycling process. “After 3D printing, leftover powder from Croom Medical is returned to GAM, where it undergoes rigorous refining and reprocessing before re-entering the manufacturing cycle. This approach maximises material efficiency and ensures a secure, consistent supply of tantalum”, explained Dr Gordon C. Smith , GAM’s CTO.
Beyond medical applications, TALOS™ offers significant advantages for the industrial and energy sectors. Its ability to craft complex near-net shape components incorporating advanced design features such as controlled porosity zones, cellular lattices, surface textures, and internal cooling or mixing channels, unlock efficiencies in demanding applications in power generation, chemical processing, and high-temperature operations.
Patrick Byrnes, CEO of Croom Medical, emphasised the company’s commitment to advancing manufacturing technologies. “TALOS™ aligns with our mission to advance manufacturing technologies, significantly improving patient outcomes by producing implants with superior biointegration, reduced stress shielding, and exceptional fatigue resistance. These benefits should lower the rate of surgery revisions, thus avoiding patient discomfort and unnecessary added surgery costs.”
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