Branded content — ECKART TLS. Presentation published in November 2024.
ECKART TLS, based in Bitterfeld, Germany, produces metal powders for additive manufacturing. Its processes include electrode induction melting inert gas atomisation (EIGA) and crucible-based gas atomisation.
Founded in 1994 as TLS-Technik, the company specialised in titanium and zirconium powders. ALTANA completed the acquisition of its activities for the ECKART division in 2021, when the business became ECKART TLS. The transaction combined TLS’s experience with ECKART’s metal atomisation expertise.
The portfolio presented in 2024
ECKART TLS reported an annual capacity of several hundred tonnes of AM powder. Its portfolio included the titanium alloy Ti6Al4V and commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti), pure copper and the CuCrZr alloy, plus aluminium alloys AlSi10Mg and A20X. CP-Ti and pure copper are distinguished here from alloys.
New alloys and coarser powder fractions
The company reported adding Ti6242, Ti6246 and Ti5553 to its standard portfolio in 2023. Depending on the application and manufacturing conditions, these alloys may provide alternatives to Ti6Al4V. It also highlighted zirconium Zr705 and aluminium bronze CuAl10Fe5Ni5, including for directed energy deposition (DED).
EIGA allows the company to atomise metal bars and adapt alloy compositions. ECKART TLS cited materials with melting points up to 2,500 °C; this does not mean that every composition is compatible without qualification.
Another development concerned coarser Ti6Al4V fractions for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). Atomisation creates a particle-size distribution that is then classified. The 15–53 µm and 20–63 µm ranges cited in this presentation do not use all the resulting powder. The manufacturer therefore sought applications for certain fractions above 50 µm.
“Like all established titanium powder producers, we face the challenge of unavoidably producing high-quality by-products, especially coarser Ti6Al4V powders with particles larger than 50 µm, for which there is limited global demand. By utilizing coarser fractions, such as 50-80 µm, for certain LPBF applications, not only can excellent part properties be achieved, but we can also improve the sustainability of metal additive manufacturing. Equally important, using these powders allows us to develop entirely new applications for the AM of Ti6Al4V, as these coarse powders are available at significantly lower costs”, says Dr. Moritz Roscher, Global Head of Additive Manufacturing & Metal Powders at ECKART.
The proposal concerns selected applications, with parameters and part properties to be checked. The economic and environmental benefits described are ECKART’s claims, rather than a universal measure for every LPBF process.
Plans announced in 2024
ECKART TLS planned additional EIGA equipment to meet anticipated demand, including from aerospace and medical customers. These expansion plans are presented in their 2024 context. The manufacturer’s catalogue provides product references and particle-size ranges.
Historical event information: the company announced its participation at Formnext 2024, Hall 12.0, Stand B78.
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