Quintus Technologies HIP Enhances Serial Production for FIT Additive Manufacturing Group

A hot isostatic press (HIP) with Uniform Rapid Quenching (URQ) from Quintus Technologies will introduce a new benchmark for the FIT Additive Manufacturing Group. Coming online in September 2019 in FIT’s main facility in Lupburg, Germany, the press will enable the additive manufacturing (AM) specialist to boost productivity while responding to the industrial requirements for 3D printed metal series parts. 

Operating at a temperature of 1400°C (2552°F) and pressure of 30,000 psi (2,070 bar), the press model QIH 32 M URQ offers a capacity of 120 kg (264 lbs.) per load in a work zone that measures 270 mm (10.6 in.) in diameter and 500 mm (19.7) in. in height. Its URQ feature allows heat treatment and cooling to be combined in a single process, known as high pressure heat treatment (HPHT). HPHT and HIP are used for the consolidation and densification of metal, ceramic and plastic parts, producing a maximum theoretical density, ductility and fatigue resistance in high-performance materials. 

"We have evaluated the requirements of 250 international industrial customers for five years, and HIP turned out as an answer to many quality issues,” says Carl Fruth, CEO, FIT AG. "I even think that all additive serial manufacturing will experience a big boost when integrating HPHT as a post-processing service." 

Jan Söderström, CEO, Quintus Technologies, welcomes the cooperation with FIT as a groundbreaking step. "We expect that the industrialization of AM in general will be revolutionized once HPHT post-processing is adopted by leading AM specialist FIT Additive Manufacturing Group,” says Söderström. “The overall optimization of process parameters and material-specific heat treatment parameters in an in-line, lean-process production context will lead to a new benchmark for dramatically optimized quality levels while reducing costs."

Additionally, the two companies have entered into a marketing agreement to expand adoption of the process. In recognition that its HIP will become integral to production, FIT also opted for a 5-year Quintus Care agreement. This preventive maintenance program optimizes press functionality at a fixed annual cost, offering FIT even more support in reducing operational risk while providing access to Quintus’ vast HIP application knowledge. 

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.