02-15-2017: DMG Mori acquired a 50.1% stake in the German metal AM veteran Realizer
DMG Mori also introduced the LASERTEC 30 SLM 3D printer
On February 15, 2016, DMG Mori—a Japanese giant specializing in CNC machine manufacturing—announced during the DMG Mori Open House 2017 conference in Pfronten, Germany, that it had acquired a 50.1% controlling stake in Realizer, a German manufacturer of metal 3D printers. At the same event, the company introduced its first PBF-based machine—the LASERTEC 30 SLM, which was based on Realizer’s existing SLM300i 3D printer.
DMG Mori began exploring 3D printing technology in the early 2010s. The company recognized the potential of combining traditional CNC machining with additive manufacturing technologies, enabling the development of hybrid production solutions. In 2014, DMG Mori introduced its first hybrid machine, which combined subtractive machining with 3D printing, marking a significant breakthrough in the industry.
Realizer, on the other hand, was one of the pioneers of laser-based metal 3D printing (SLM / PBF). The company originated from MCP HEK GmbH, one of the first innovators in metal 3D printing. MCP HEK started in the 1990s and developed one of the first commercial SLM machines.
MCP underwent several transformations—first becoming MCP Tooling Technologies, then MTT Technologies Group. Realizer initially served as a brand name for 3D printers but was later spun off as an independent company in the mid-to-late 2010s, continuing to improve SLM technology and launching its own machines. (As an interesting side note, SLM Solutions and Renishaw’s metal AM division also originated from the same lineage of companies.)
Realizer introduced SLM 50, SLM 100, and SLM 250 3D printers, which were widely used in manufacturing and dentistry. The company contributed innovations in process control, metal powder quality, and 3D printing parameter optimization.
After the DMG Mori acquisition, PBF / SLM technology was developed alongside DED (marketed as LMD – Laser Metal Deposition) and hybrid solutions that combined DED / LMD with CNC machining.
Today, DMG Mori is one of the largest providers of metal AM systems in the world.
Source: www.dmgmori-ag.com
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