AMAG using additive manufacturing for the aerospace industry since 2018

AMAG, one of the biggest manufacturers and processors of aluminium in Austria, had been associated with aerospace component manufacturing through acquisition for 1.5 years. AMAG components, which has locations in Übersee am Chiemsee and Karlsruhe, was recently bought in its entirety and is a proven specialist in the mechanical processing of aluminium and titanium components. AMAG components have been working on titanium structural components for the aerospace sector using additive manufacturing since 2018/19, from research to demonstration pieces. Components are built up layer by layer using the WAAM technique (Wire-Arc-Additive-Manufacturing (wire build-up welding)), and then mechanical processing gives them their final shape.

Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Franz Haas (Head of the Institute of Production Engineering) and Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Christof Sommitsch (Head of the Institute of Production Engineering) run an additive manufacturing lab at Graz University of Technology (Head of the Institute of Materials Science, Joining and Forming). Both academics serve on AMAG's Scientific Advisory Board, which advises the company on R&D strategy and project selection while also providing a link to university research and training.

AMAG is donating a state-of-the-art facility from its inventory of AMAG components in Übersee am Chiemsee to Graz University of Technology to improve cooperation and encourage research and training in the field of additive manufacturing. As a result, AMAG is once again emphasising the importance of innovation, cutting-edge research, and training in the field of metallurgy in Austria.

The facility, which cost roughly EUR 800,000 when constructed, was most recently utilised by AMAG components for research and the fabrication of titanium demonstration parts. Incorporating the knowledge of the two participating institutions into the university environment now allows for new insights into material behaviour and the qualities of components made from various materials (including aluminium). This will provide students access to a cutting-edge industrial tool for their training.

The gift agreement was signed on March 15, 2022, at the TU Graz in the presence of Rector Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Dr.h.c.mult. Harald Kainz, Professors Franz Haas and Christof Sommitsch, and Priv.-Doz. Dr Helmut Kaufmann, AMAG's Chief Technology Officer.

"For AMAG, innovation is an essential pillar of the corporate strategy. Accompanying this, the training of experts and thus cooperation with top universities is particularly important for us. We have been cooperating successfully with Graz University of Technology for years in research into innovative production technology and materials development for light metals, and intend to continue to drive this forward. The training of up-and-coming scientists in the area of production technology is a major concern for us, not least because AMAG wants to continue to grow in the area of component production, and needs competent employees to do so," said Helmut Kaufmann, AMAG Austria Metall AG's Chief Technology Officer.

"Researchers and students alike benefit from our cooperation with AMAG and the new high-tech facility. They find a high-performance, state-of-the-art research environment and can quickly and purposefully link their studies and research with business-specific requirements of the industry. The young technical talent at TU Graz is directly integrated into ongoing research projects and is thus prepared in the best possible way for jobs and careers in industry and business," says TU Graz Rector Harald Kainz, pleased with this generous donation.

"The cooperation with AMAG and the donation of this facility is a clear sign of appreciation for our work and achievements. The timing of the donation is particularly appropriate, as we are holding a major international conference on the subject of 'additive manufacturing' at Graz University of Technology in the fall, where we also intend to present the new plant," added Franz Haas, Head of the Institute of Production Engineering at Graz University of Technology.