Kestrel gathered industrial, clinical and commercial insight into the market potential for a novel post-processing technology used in metal additive manufacturing.
Background:
Additive manufacture (AM) has evolved from resin and polymer powder-based Rapid Prototyping (RP) technology to produce components with unique geometries manufactured at scale. Metal additive manufacture applies this technology to Ti, Co-Cr and Al components used in medical, aerospace, automotive and other sectors.
Requirement:
Metal AM typically uses metal powders to create components, leaving a rough external surface. This rough surface can be problematic, and post-processing to reduce roughness is common, but can be time-consuming, inconsistent and expensive.
The development team developed a hybrid process for reducing roughness by combining two existing technologies.
Kestrel’s task was to identify key applications, un-met needs and collaboration partners for this technology.
Response:
Over a three-month project, Kestrel researched organisations and applications in medical, aerospace and other industries where metal AM is under development and where surface roughness is an issue.
We identified and approached multiple organisations in the industry in Ireland, the UK and EU to understand customer and industry needs, potential applications, market size, alternative technologies and opportunities for collaboration.
Kestrel arranged in-person and online meetings to set up discuss opportunities, identify technology onboarding processes and lay out development pathways with collaboration partners.
Result:
We established technology exploitation agreements with three leading international organisations in aerospace, medical and agreed development pathways in Spain, UK and Ireland.
Our client is currently progressing commercial exploitation plans with two major industry partners.