We are thrilled to announce that AMS is taking a significant step towards a more sustainable future by partnering with ESG Assessors. This strategic collaboration marks the beginning of AMS’ sustainability journey, demonstrating their commitment to environmental impact, social responsibility, and strong governance.

A commitment to a Greener Future

AMS has always been at the forefront of innovation and excellence in the additive manufacturing industry. By integrating ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles into their business operations, they are affirming their dedication to creating a positive impact on the environment and society.

This partnership will enable AMS to:

• Reduce Environmental Footprint: Implement strategies to minimise waste, reduce carbon emissions, and promote resource efficiency.

• Enhance Social Responsibility: Foster a positive work environment, support community initiatives, and ensure fair practices across their supply chain.

•  Strengthen Governance: Adopt transparent practices, improve stakeholder engagement, and ensure robust risk management

About ESG Assessors

ESG Assessors is a leading consultancy specialising in sustainability and ESG integration. Their expertise and innovative solutions will provide AMS with the tools and insights needed to meet and exceed their sustainability goals. Together, they will work on comprehensive assessments, strategic planning, and implementation of best practices to drive sustainable growth.

Looking Ahead

This partnership is just the beginning of an exciting journey. AMS is dedicated to continuous improvement and will regularly update stakeholders on their progress and achievements. Stay tuned for more updates as they set new benchmarks in sustainability and inspire others in the industry to follow suit.

Congratulations to AMS for this remarkable initiative! Your commitment to a sustainable future is truly commendable, and we look forward to witnessing the positive impacts of this journey.

AMS are delighted to share we are through to the final stage of two categories for this years BIBA awards! These are Innovative Business of the Year and Micro Business of the Year!

We are all really proud of this achievement and would like to congratulate all finalists.

For more information, please see https://www.thebibas.co.uk/

Additive Manufacturing Solutions Ltd (AMS) is embarking on an exciting new project to explore the feasibility and practical possibilities of using recycled metallic materials in additive manufacturing (AM).

The Innovate UK-funded project Recycling and Reuse of Aerospace Materials for Additive Manufacturing (R2AM2) will investigate the potential to recycle parts into feedstock for metal AM and the processability and final part performance of recycled AM production.

The recycling aircraft article by Dan Zhao et al 2021 estimates there are 740 tonnes of non-ferrous (not including aluminium) metals available to recycle each year but only a fraction of that is ever recycled. The project aims to explore a potential environmental step change in the ways materials are used for additive manufacturing.

Research suggests that the international AM powder market is expected to top $1 billion in 2023 with titanium likely 1/3 of that market (source: 6K Additive). As our planet is not an endless resource, alongside restrictions in supply and increase in costs due to ongoing conflict, it is more important than ever to look at the ca. 600 tonnes of recycled aircraft parts that could support this growth by providing a lower cost, high quality product. AMS is calling this high value scrap mining and believes if re-usable feedstock is available, it is likely that an alternate to mining can be seen in the UK for the UK market.

CEO and founder of AMS, Robert Higham, said: “The UK was once a leader in AM technology, and we have since seen a stagnation period, with our work alongside the output of this project we aspire to enable a vibrant and highly profitable UK source of feedstock and catalyst for material producing parts for our defence, space, aerospace, and automotive industries.

Having Innovate UK support our research and development in this field is a significant and crucial step in our plans as AMS. If we are to continue with our ambitious plans to promote and increase on shore manufacturing it is crucial we enable a secure and sustainable supply chain of product. This project is the first step in providing valuable data as to the true possibilities of high value circular economy development. We are honoured to be awarded the funding to allow us to take this idea to an industrial feasibility state.”

The project is underway and will end in November 2023. AMS will be using scrap aerospace parts and recycling them into powder which will then be tested and used to manufacture new parts. These new parts will provide the vital data needed to evaluate if this process is effective in providing recycled materials for high quality feedstock for AM in the UK.

Additive Manufacturing Solutions Ltd. (AMS) has officially expanded its in-house capabilities with the acquisition of Nikon SLM Solutions’ SLM®280 2.0 system.

This strategic move not only bolsters AMS’s capacity for producing advanced materials and novel alloys but also amplifies their standing as a service provider with exceptional toolpath control capabilities, thanks to their partnership and expertise with Dyndrite software. AMS are developing and creating metal powders for AM from recycled parts. This high value circular economy approach to material development alongside the SLM®280 2.0 system provides a step change in AM sustainability.

Nikon SLM Solutions’s UK partner Kingsbury has supplied and installed the SLM 280 2.0, bolstering their commitment to delivering and supporting metal additive adoption in the United Kingdom. The new equipment and the AMS team will be further supported by Additure, a division of the Kingsbury group dedicated to accelerating the adoption of metal AM technologies.

Richard Kingsbury commented “With Additure we have the perfect mechanism to ably assist you on your metal AM journey. Combining that with the pedigree of machine tools service and support from Kingsbury means that we can provide end-to-end capability to our customers. We are thrilled to be working with AMS at this stage of their journey and we look forward to more exciting announcements in the near future. “

Robert Higham, CEO of AMS, celebrates the new acquisition, “With the integration of the SLM®280 2.0 into our operations, we are poised to revolutionize the material and process capabilities within the additive manufacturing (AM) industry. This advancement is coupled with our pioneering Additive Manufacturing AcademyTM, set to deliver hands-on experience and groundbreaking training in additive manufacturing.”

AMS, a frontrunner in sustainable and innovative manufacturing solutions, now harnesses the SLM®280 2.0 to drive rapid material development capabilities. This addition is expected to have a significant impact on their production efficiency, allowing for a more substantial presence in the UK motorsport, defence, aerospace and space markets.

“AMS’s acquisition of the SLM®280 2.0 machine marks a significant milestone in the additive manufacturing landscape.  Their foresight to integrate Dyndrite’s cutting-edge toolpath technology exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to innovation and precision in production,” comments Nikon SLM Solutions CCO, Charlie Grace, “At Nikon SLM Solutions, we take pride in empowering our partners like AMS, who are not only advancing their capabilities but also shaping the future of sustainable and efficient manufacturing. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to excellence and our continuous endeavor to push the boundaries of what’s possible in additive manufacturing.”

Leveraging Dyndrite for Enhanced Toolpath Control

Incorporating Dyndrite’s powerful toolpath control software, AMS is equipped to offer enhanced toolpath control and optimisation capabilities as part of their service offerings. Dyndrite’s unique GPU accelerated geometry engine, APIs and application allows AMS to maximise additive manufacturing AM capabilities, providing a competitive edge over traditional toolpathing solutions with its speed, flexibility, and precision.

“The Dyndrite toolpath control unleashes unparalleled levels of control and efficiency in AM processes,” explains Higham. “Our work with Dyndrite’s technology underpins our position as material and process development leaders, providing scalable and dynamic AM solutions to meet the ever-evolving demands of the industry.”

Additive Manufacturing Solutions Ltd. (AMS), a leading innovator in additive manufacturing solutions and SME, proudly announces its ground-breaking collaboration with the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Defence Equipment Sales Authority (DESA) to research the technical feasibility of recovering critical materials from surplus Defence Assets.

This partnership marks the first phase of a project aimed to empower the MOD with enhanced knowledge of and control over current and future material sourcing strategies.

For AMS, this milestone contract with the MOD signifies a significant shift towards fostering a sustainable and resilient UK-centric supply chain. Notably, this agreement highlights AMS’ capabilities and, more importantly, underscores the alignment of its vision with major defence industry players.

AMS Director & CEO Rob Higham remarked, “AMS has tirelessly built momentum and expertise within the additive powder market, with a sharp focus on providing recycled feedstocks. This agreement represents the next phase in our mission to commercialise recycled materials within the additive manufacturing feedstock market. It stands as a crowning achievement in AMS’ history. Supporting the MOD in addressing critical mineral accessibility and capability is an honour and a testament to the efforts of the entire AMS team.”

This engagement will support the MOD’s efforts to enable a resilient UK-based supply chain, exercising direct influence over the supply of vital minerals, including titanium, to the UK market. This initiative champions a high-value circular economy approach to feedstock sourcing, positioning the MOD at the nucleus of future supply dynamics.

DESA’s Submarine Recycling, Sustainability & Innovation Programme Manager Thomas Powell commented on this award: “This innovative technical feasibility study, to be delivered by Additive Manufacturing Solutions Ltd., is another confident step forwards on MOD’s sustainability and circular economy journey. It is a delight to be able to partner with Additive Manufacturing Solutions Ltd.

and UK Strategic Command Defence Support to advance the MOD’s understanding as to whether redundant and surplus Defence Assets can be upcycled into new capabilities thereby reducing costs, increasing resiliency, maximising operational availability and enabling MOD to capitalise on and exploit new and emerging technologies for maximum operational advantage.”

The initial phase of this collaboration will encompass a comprehensive capability assessment for the MOD, incorporating trials of atomisation, additive manufacturing feasibility, and exploration of future materials. AMS aims to deliver demonstrative geometry utilising recycled feedstocks, through collaboration with a significant MOD supplier. The outcome will advance towards subsequent phases focusing on material qualification and industrialisation.

This partnership exemplifies AMS’ commitment to innovation and sustainability, while also fortifying the MOD’s strategic vision for a robust and self-reliant supply chain.