Continuously instead of batch-wise

1 November 2022

In addition to conventional gas atomization plants, the SMS group, together with a customer, has developed another highly innovative powder production process. The conventional batch-wise process is transformed into a continuous process.

The Continuous Powder Production Plant enables cost-effective and large-scale production of up to 4,000 tons per year, thus more than doubling capacity compared to the traditional gas atomization process.

The integrated plant was developed to meet the rapidly growing demand for metal powders and the growing cost expectations in the market. According to SMS group, production costs for spherical, high-quality metal powders are significantly reduced. The system will be presented to the AM world for the first time at Formnext 2022.

In the new process developed by SMS group, two large Vacuum Induction Melting (VIM) furnaces continuously hold liquid melt, which is atomized successively through the nozzle. The nozzle can be exchanged during operation. Melting is done under vacuum to guarantee highest quality levels like in the conventional process. In addition to the VIM route, where pure scrap is used as feedstock, the new process can also work with an existing liquid material supply. A metallurgical route with basic scrap as feedstock is also possible. The new process is backed up by an intelligent powder handling and storage system as well as an automatic packaging solution. A scrap warehouse and a packaging area complete the integrated factory solution.

SMS group at Formnext 2022:

Hall 12.0, Booth A118