ASX-listed 3D metal printing group Aurora Labs has entered a pivotal point in its well flagged technology development pathway strategy as it prepares to take the next step towards commercialisation of its 3D printing technology. The Perth-based company says it is now on the verge of reaching the final technical milestone of the technology development pathway that signals commercial readiness of its suite of products.
Aurora Labs has been collaborating with various industry players including independent additive manufacturing and engineering specialist The Barnes Global Advisors or “TBGA”, who will be carrying out an evaluation of the 3D metal printing outfit’s technology under development.
Aurora Labs Chief Executive Officer Peter Snowsill said: “As we near the end of the technology development and reach the commercialisation phase, Aurora Labs is engaging with companies whose technologies may be complementary to our offering. We are looking at accelerating our pathway to market through collaboration and are encouraged by the potential of Aurora Labs’ core technology to match and exceed commercially available printer performance.”
Aurora Labs specialises in developing 3D metal printing technology and its associated intellectual property, powders and digital parts.
TBGA has been commissioned to validate Aurora Labs' core technology strengths and then look to match them up with potential applications, end user requirements and market opportunities.
As part of the assessment, TBGA intends benchmarking the productivity and costs of production of Aurora Labs’ 3D metal printing against other multi-laser powder bed fusion printers.
According to Aurora Labs, the third-party independent review has already confirmed some of the encouraging outcomes from its technology development pathway, particularly in relation to the technology's underlying performance.
TBGA's body of work will culminate in strategic recommendations for commercialisation, either via a licensing fee model, sale of technology packages or joint commercial printer development in conjunction with existing industrial machine or 3D printer manufacturers.
Aurora Labs has also been putting the company’s RMP-1 Beta printer prototype through its paces in a printing trial being carried out for BAE Systems Maritime Australia.
The trial project involves using Aurora Labs’ high-power printing parameters to produce a high-quality spare part.
Aurora says it continues to monitor demand for more contract printing of high-quality metal spare parts, which it says offers valuable benchmarking of its technology.
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By Matt Birney
