The need to meet demand for high-mix, low-volume (HMLV) production is one of the dominant catalysts driving new manufacturing investment. One explanation for this lies in a rare dual transformation taking hold in global supply chains: typically, the manufacturing sector alternates between cycles in which it’s mostly focused on adapting to changes in product technology and cycles in which it’s mostly focused on adapting to changes in process technology.
The relatively infrequent phases commonly referred to as ‘Industrial Revolutions’, however, are defined by cycles where both product and process technologies shift, in more or less equal measure, simultaneously. In the context of this historical trend’s current manifestation, the growing demand for HMLV capabilities is a primary reason for increasing additive manufacturing (AM) adoption. A good example of that is the latest announcement from Continuum Powders, its launch of a service called Custom Foundry Runtime (CFR).
The Houston-based materials supplier is now offering customers the opportunity to order custom alloys in small batches, produced using Continuum’s Greyhound platform, which leverages the company’s proprietary Melt-to-Powder (M2P) technology. The M2P process enables scrap to be converted into new metal powder without the need to convert the old metal into ingots first.
The Greyhound Melt to Powder (M2P) Platform.
Now, with CFR, customers can gain the same advantage with alloys tailored to their specifications. In addition to directly serving demand for HMLV output, this should appeal to enterprises and organizations involved in R&D work, as well as those working with particularly high-value materials like gold and platinum. Continuum notes that it anticipates typical batch sizes will range from 100 kg/day (“For complex, multi-variant, or constrained trials”) to 500 kg/day (“For favorable alloys and stable production setups”).
In a press release about Continuum Powders’ launch of its Custom Foundry Runtime service, the company’s CEO, Jon Cozens, said, “Custom Foundry Runtime represents an important evolution for Continuum Powders. We’re seeing growing demand for flexible alloy development and secure processing capabilities, particularly for customers working with highly specialized or precious materials. CFR gives companies access to advanced atomization infrastructure without forcing them into traditional large-scale production models that don’t fit their needs.”
Continuum Powders’ Melt-to-Powder (M2P) process converts diverse metal feedstocks into high-performance powders for additive manufacturing applications.
Recycling seems like it could be a growth industry from now until the end of time, give or take. This isn’t because people have finally started to care about environmental destruction: rather, it has everything to do with the pragmatism inspired by this new era of geopoli
The need to meet demand for high-mix, low-volume (HMLV) production is one of the dominant catalysts driving new manufacturing investment. One explanation for this lies in a rare dual transformation taking hold in global supply chains: typically, the manufacturing sector alternates between cycles in which it’s mostly focused on adapting to changes in product technology and cycles in which it’s mostly focused on adapting to changes in process technology.
The relatively infrequent phases commonly referred to as ‘Industrial Revolutions’, however, are defined by cycles where both product and process technologies shift, in more or less equal measure, simultaneously. In the context of this historical trend’s current manifestation, the growing demand for HMLV capabilities is a primary reason for increasing additive manufacturing (AM) adoption. A good example of that is the latest announcement from Continuum Powders, its launch of a service called Custom Foundry Runtime (CFR).
The Houston-based materials supplier is now offering customers the opportunity to order custom alloys in small batches, produced using Continuum’s Greyhound platform, which leverages the company’s proprietary Melt-to-Powder (M2P) technology. The M2P process enables scrap to be converted into new metal powder without the need to convert the old metal into ingots first.
The Greyhound Melt to Powder (M2P) Platform.
Now, with CFR, customers can gain the same advantage with alloys tailored to their specifications. In addition to directly serving demand for HMLV output, this should appeal to enterprises and organizations involved in R&D work, as well as those working with particularly high-value materials like gold and platinum. Continuum notes that it anticipates typical batch sizes will range from 100 kg/day (“For complex, multi-variant, or constrained trials”) to 500 kg/day (“For favorable alloys and stable production setups”).
In a press release about Continuum Powders’ launch of its Custom Foundry Runtime service, the company’s CEO, Jon Cozens, said, “Custom Foundry Runtime represents an important evolution for Continuum Powders. We’re seeing growing demand for flexible alloy development and secure processing capabilities, particularly for customers working with highly specialized or precious materials. CFR gives companies access to advanced atomization infrastructure without forcing them into traditional large-scale production models that don’t fit their needs.”
Continuum Powders’ Melt-to-Powder (M2P) process converts diverse metal feedstocks into high-performance powders for additive manufacturing applications.
Recycling seems like it could be a growth industry from now until the end of time, give or take. This isn’t because people have finally started to care about environmental destruction: rather, it has everything to do with the pragmatism inspired by this new era of geopoli