Yorkshire-based tech firm has developed low-energy way of producing powdered titanium for use in 3D printers
Yorkshire-based powdered metal maker Metalysis has raised £20m in new investment from veteran British investor Neil Woodford and Australian mineral company Iluka Resources.
Metalysis produces powdered metals - specialising in powdered titanium - for use in 3D printers. It claims to have developed a highly efficient process for producing powdered titanium, which uses half the energy required for conventional melting, extracting and powdering of the metal.
Powdered titanium meets a growing demand for lightweight, high-grade metal that can be used to print anything from tailor-made replacement hip joints to highly specialist aerospace parts.
Until now, titanium has proved too expensive to attract widespread use, but its use in 3D printing is cheaper than in conventional manufacturing as it produces less waste and requires less machining to deliver a final product.
Metalysis said it will use the new investment to speed the commercial rollout of its powdered metals.
David Robb, managing director of Iluka Resources, said the prospect of commercial volumes of titanium powder could drive a dramatic expansion in demand for the product.
"The application of titanium powder in 3D printing also presents potentially significant opportunities in a rapidly expanding market," he added in a statement. "Such developments would be positive for high grade titanium dioxide feedstock demand."
Metalysis claims that its production method is both lower cost and better for the environment than the traditional production method for titanium powder, which involves heating the ore up to 1,000 degrees Celcius and treating it with chlorine gas before distilling and separating to produce titanium - a highly energy intensive process.
In contrast, Metalysis' one-stage method uses electrolysis to reduce metal oxide to metal powders in a bath of molten salt.
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