Medical device manufacturer Marle Group has recently expanded its portfolio of activities to additive manufacturing – through the acquisition of medical 3D Printing Start-up 3D MEDLAB. With a new business onboard, a lot of processes need to be understood and restructured.
The challenge becomes obvious when one of its customers was looking for support to integrate additive manufacturing (AM) into its facility. The Marle Group team started looking for technology experts who could help guide them through the different technologies, applications and training that was required to make the new business venture successful.
We learned that Marle 3D Medlab contacted Renishaw in 2018 and after some consultation, it initially decided to install the RenAM 500 in its facility. “Marle 3D Medlab has been supported by Renishaw UK and Spain throughout the whole installation, training and day-to-day running process,” explained Gael Volpi, Head of Additive Manufacturing at Marle Group.
Marle 3D Medlab installed two machines, one for research and development between itself and Renishaw and the second for the customer, so Marle 3D Medlab could train and develop processes on it before transferring it to the customer site. After the successful integration and use of the two machines, Marle 3D Medlab invested in the RenAM 500Q Flex whose key strength lies in an additive manufacturing with powder metallurgy (AMPM) module.
This machine is a variant of the RenAM 500 machine you probably know.It comes with a non-recirculating powder system enables manufacturers in R&D, pre-production or bureau environments to easily change between materials, without compromising on part quality or build capacity.
“The unique flexibility of the RenAM 500Q Flex with the AMPM module allows 3D Medlab to use the laser in Pulsed and Continuous mode and easily swap between high value titanium grades, such as Ti6AI4V and Titanium-Tantal alloy,” commented Chris Dimery, Sales Manager at Renishaw. “The added flexibility allows 3D Medlab to quickly adapt its batches to the specific requirements of its medical customers. It can fit multiple bespoke parts on one build plate, increasing productivity and accuracy, compared to casting and machining processes.”
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