Arcam AB/GE Additive

Arcam AB/GE Additive
Name	Arcam AB/GE Additive
Industry	Additive manufacturing
Founded	1997
Founder	Ralf Larson
Headquarters	Mölndal, Sweden
Key people	Martin Andersson (former CEO)
Products	Electron beam melting systems, metal powders
Parent	General Electric

Arcam AB/GE Additive is a Swedish company specializing in metal additive manufacturing equipment and consumables, notable for developing electron beam melting technology. The firm gained international attention through industrial implementations in aerospace, medical device, and automotive sectors and for its acquisition by a major conglomerate. Its machines and materials have been integrated into production chains alongside established manufacturers and research institutions.

History

The company was founded in 1997 in Mölndal, Sweden by Ralf Larson and a team with backgrounds linked to Vattenfall, Chalmers University of Technology, and Swedish metallurgy projects. Early milestones included commercial deployment of electron beam melting systems to customers such as Boeing, Rolls-Royce, and research groups at Imperial College London. Significant corporate events include listing on the NASDAQ Stockholm exchange and a strategic acquisition by General Electric in 2016, transitioning ownership into GE Additive. Post-acquisition integration aligned the firm with GE entities involved in industrial manufacturing like GE Aviation and GE Power while preserving ties to European aerospace suppliers such as Saab and Airbus.

Technology and Products

Arcam developed electron beam melting (EBM) equipment that uses an electron beam to fuse metal powder layer by layer inside a vacuum chamber. Core product families included the A1, Q10, Q20plus, and Series systems which supported alloys such as titanium, cobalt-chrome, and stainless steel grades used by companies like Pratt & Whitney and academic labs at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The technology emphasized build rates, part density, and powder recyclability, competing with selective laser melting systems from firms such as EOS GmbH and SLM Solutions. Consumables and software offerings extended compatibility with industrial workflows found at suppliers like MTU Aero Engines and certification pathways used by regulators such as European Aviation Safety Agency.

Applications and Markets

Adoption concentrated in high-value, low-volume sectors: aerospace for turbine components used by GE Aviation and Rolls-Royce, medical devices for patient-specific implants deployed alongside hospitals like Mayo Clinic and regulators including FDA, and automotive for motorsport and niche manufacturers collaborating with Ferrari and McLaren. Other markets encompassed energy sector parts for companies such as Siemens and research-driven production at institutions like Fraunhofer Society and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Supply chains involved tier suppliers like GKN and integration with quality systems familiar to standards bodies such as ISO.

Corporate Structure and Ownership

Originally an independent Swedish limited company, the firm transitioned through public ownership on NASDAQ Stockholm before acquisition by General Electric in a deal that folded it into GE Additive. As a subsidiary, it aligned with GE’s corporate organization alongside Concept Laser and GE’s internal Additive leadership reporting to corporate units tied to GE Aviation. Governance involved boards with members experienced at multinational industrial firms including executives from ABB and Ericsson who navigated regulatory reviews by authorities such as the European Commission during acquisition.

Manufacturing and Facilities

Manufacturing remained centered in Sweden with production facilities near Mölndal, supplemented by service centers and sales offices across regions including North America, Europe, and Asia. Service and spare parts operations coordinated with logistics partners like DHL and distributors in markets served by firms such as Arcam EBM Inc. USA and regional representatives working with aerospace clusters in Seattle and Hamburg. The company maintained quality management systems to meet procurement requirements from prime contractors like Airbus and Lockheed Martin.

Research, Development, and Collaborations

The company engaged in collaborative R&D with universities such as Chalmers University of Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and TU Munich, and governmental labs including Swedish Defence Research Agency. Industry partnerships included joint projects with Rolls-Royce, GE Aviation, and material suppliers like Höganäs to develop powder specifications and process parameters. Participation in consortia with organizations such as EUREKA and Horizon framework programs supported standards work alongside bodies like ASTM International to address qualification and certification challenges for additive manufacturing in regulated sectors.

Category:Manufacturing companies of Sweden Category:Additive manufacturing