Research, product development, and commercialization company Bralco Advanced Materials (Singapore) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GE Additive (Cincinnati, OH) for the development of 3D-printed magnetic components often used in aerospace, medical, automotive, energy, industrial automation, and robotics applications. The MoU aims to progress 3D printing of magnetic components in the Asia Pacific region.
Bralco's strength in magnetic materials combined with GE Additive's expertise in powder manufacturing and additive manufacturing machine technology will enable Bralco to accelerate the development of soft and hard magnets and components that have complex shapes, differentiated magnetic fields, and high mechanical strength, as well as be capable of operating at elevated temperatures, high frequencies, and high torque conditions. This would make them ideally suited for demanding applications, such as the traction motors of electric vehicles.
The MoU contemplates Bralco being given access to GE Additive's AddWorks engineering consultancy team and its materials division, AP&C. This would enable Bralco to shorten the product development and commercialization cycle. The MoU also contemplates the potential in the future for the appointment of Bralco as a service provider in the Asia Pacific region to print parts and components, using GE Additive machines and powders and based on Bralco's magnetic materials compositions.
Bralco intends to set up its first R&D Lab and Product Innovation Centre in Singapore, equipped with a GE Additive machine and a powder and built parts testing and characterization lab, according to Amit Nanavati, founder and CEO of Bralco Advanced Materials.
"We hope these steps will add to the growing importance of Singapore as a global center for the additive manufacturing industry and as one of the most attractive locations to set up a high tech R&D facility—an achievement largely due to the vision of the Singapore government in early adoption of Industry 4.0 and Additive Manufacturing and the untiring efforts of its nodal agencies National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC), Enterprise Singapore (ESG), and Enterprise Development Board (EDB)," Nanavati says.
For more information, please visit bralcoadvancedmaterials.com and ge.com/additive.