According to Burns, the company expects to see its revenues jump from $39.5M in 2013 to $55M to $60M this year.
While ExOne’s financials seem to have them on the fast track to success, it was the firm’s introduction of its own Inconel Alloy 625 that made the biggest splash of the day. Designed for use in the aerospace, chemical and energy industries, the nickel-based alloy is oxidation and corrosion resistant and responds well to high pressure and high temperatures, making it ideal for gas turbine applications, heat exchangers and molding processes.
According to Rick Lucas, ExOne’s CTO, “Our qualification of the more than 99 percent dense Inconel alloy 625 further validates ExOne’s binder jetting technology as a cost-effective 3D printing industrial solution. Our machines provide higher volumetric output per unit of time compared with other metal 3D printing technologies, and greater flexibility for simultaneously printing multiple production parts. We believe that the ability to directly print highly dense metal components increases our competitive edge with both subtractive manufacturers and other metal 3D printing technologies.”
Beyond the introduction of its Inconel powder, ExOne stated it is in the process of creating titanium, aluminum, magnesium and other industrial metals for use in its sintering machines.
In addition to their advances in material development, Burns told investors that the company will expand its capacity in its North Huntingdon headquarters and consolidate its German operations by moving them into a larger facility.
While ExOne has certainly been more than a marginal player in the world of 3D printing, it has, until now, been overshadowed by the likes of Arcam and 3D Systems. With its new investment in material research ExOne may be on the verge of becoming a big player in the world of AM. If the company can find a foothold in heavy manufacturing it’ll only be a matter of time before its market share and profits rise.
Image Courtesy of ExOne