Velo3D, Inc., a leading metal additive manufacturing technology company for mission-critical parts, has expanded its European presence to support its growth efforts in the region.

The expansion includes the opening of a technical centre in Augsburg, Germany, where Velo3D's Sapphire systems will be assembled and demonstrated, as well as delivering the first end-to-end manufacturing solution to Schoeller-Bleckmann Oilfield (SBO) Technology, a European contract manufacturer specialising in the production of high-value metal parts for the oil and gas industry.

"Europe is a key market for Velo3D's growth in the coming years and we're thrilled to deliver our first end-to-end additive manufacturing solution and open our new technical centre to accelerate this expansion," said Benny Buller, Velo3D CEO and Founder. "With Velo3D's end-to-end solutions, seeing is believing, and at our Augsburg facility, we'll be able to demonstrate our impressive additive manufacturing technology in person to customer prospects. We're also pleased to be launching in Europe with our first customer, SBO, supporting its effort to expand its capabilities and service new industries using our Sapphire system."

SBO is a multinational corporation with 1,130 employees worldwide operating more than 450 conventional CNC machines. The company's U.S.-based subsidiary, Knust-Godwin LLC, has extensively validated Velo3D's end-to-end additive manufacturing technology in its Houston facility and is using its solutions to build production parts for its customers in the aerospace and oil and gas industries. SBO's new Sapphire system will be located in the company's Austrian headquarters and will unlock the ability to print complex metal parts in Inconel 718. SBO has EN 9100, ISO 9001, and ISO 14001 certifications, which allow it to develop and produce parts for aerospace customers, as well as other industries, while also meeting certain standards for quality and environmental management.

"By adding Velo3D's innovative additive manufacturing solution to our capabilities, we will be able to expand into new markets and service new customers, helping them build metal parts that were previously thought impossible to create," said Campbell Macpherson, SBO EVP of Advanced Manufacturing. "Over the past few years, many of our customers have inquired about 3D printing. Velo3D's ability to create parts without having to design them for additive manufacturing makes it stand out compared to other solutions. Its end-to-end solution is very complimentary to our existing offerings and will allow us to greatly improve the supply chain for our customers."

Velo3D's new European technology centre will allow the additive manufacturing technology company to better service customers like SBO by enabling company leaders to demonstrate its advanced 3D printing capabilities. The facility will be located at the Augsburg Innovations Park in Augsburg, Germany, and will include more than 110 square metres (1,200 square feet) of space across a main hall (which will house Sapphire systems), a lab area, and offices. It also includes conference rooms for hosting customers for presentations, events, and other meetings.

"The feedback we've received from engineers and additive manufacturing experts across Europe is that Velo3D's technology delivers novel capabilities in geometry, quality, and scalability," said Zach Murphree, Velo3D VP of Global Sales and Business Development. "By taking delivery of our first machine in Europe, SBO stands to differentiate itself in the European contract manufacturer market, which is one of the largest markets for high-value metal parts. We look forward to growing our customer base in the region."