In a statement yesterday, the company said the new additive manufacturing technology for the production of castings using silica sand reduces production times and is more environmentally friendly than previous processes. The company is utilizing the technology at its facility in Traisen, Lower Austria.
 
“Over the past years, voestalpine has consistently expanded its activities in the field of 3D printing with metals. The new 3D sand printer in Traisen represents a key technological advance for steel casting, and will hugely increase our competitiveness in this area,” said Herbert Eibensteiner, chairman of the management board of voestalpine AG.
 
The technology utilizes a 3D printer that uses CAD data to produce sand molds into which liquid steel is poured. The molds are created by the application of layer upon layer of chemically bonded silica sand.
 
voestalpine Gießerei has installed one printer at its new 3D sand printing competence center, with a second printer coming this spring.