August 02, 2022

Bosch Acquires Two SLM®500s, Supercharging Its Additive Expansion and Further Propelling the Automotive Industry

The new systems will enable the company to produce parts for powertrain technology and more.

Lübeck, Germany – August 2, 2022. SLM Solutions Group AG ("SLM Solutions," "SLM" or the "Company") today announces the recent installation of two SLM®500s at Robert Bosch GmbH Nuremberg ("Bosch"), the renowned German technology leader. 

Bosch will utilize its new systems to produce parts for its powertrain technology, including custom aluminium parts for hydrogen technology and electric drive productions at their 3D-MPC Manufacturing and Processing Center in Nuremberg, Germany. The centre is responsible for producing components and parts using Additive Manufacturing (AM) for prototype and serial applications.

The SLM®500s will significantly increase BOSCH's output for aluminium parts in AlSi10Mg, allowing them higher capacity for demanding lot sizes, thus accelerating revenue. Their constant production of heavy-duty jobs means they need a reliable machine base exceeding high-performance requirements regarding output and Overall Equipment Effectiveness ("OEE").

​​"A high OEE, a resilient machine design, and our good quality processes are the keys for AM-production", - Dr Christina Bluemel comments, Manager of the NuP1 3DP Manufacturing and Processing Center.

SLM Solutions' CEO Sam O'Leary comments, "We are more than thrilled to partner with Bosch, a real technology powerhouse. They understand the revolutionary potential of additive manufacturing and trust the power and reliability of SLM Solutions systems. We are genuinely excited to support Bosch to accelerate the implementation of additive solutions across its entire portfolio of products and solutions."

Bosch's AM presence will also go beyond the automotive industry: finding parallel success in using SLM® technology with their 3DPSPACE Startup, which produces parts for the space sector.

The first quad-laser metal system on the market, the SLM®500 can integrate lasers independently or in parallel to increase build rates by 90% over twin laser configurations. Designed for serial production, the exchangeable build cylinder enables the shortest possible fire to fire times, reducing downtimes of the machine to a minimum. Machine operator and powder are separated through a closed-loop powder handling strategy, including an automated powder sieve and supply. The SLM®500 is the best performing, most efficient system in its class.

About Bosch                                    
The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 402,600 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2021). The company generated sales of $93.1 billion in 2021. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. As a leading IoT provider, Bosch offers innovative solutions for smart homes, Industry 4.0, and connected mobility. Bosch is pursuing a vision of mobility that is sustainable, safe, and exciting. It uses its expertise in sensor technology, software, and services, as well as its own IoT cloud, to offer its customers connected, cross-domain solutions from a single source. The Bosch Group's strategic objective is to facilitate connected living with products and solutions that either contain artificial intelligence (AI) or have been developed or manufactured with its help. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is "Invented for life." The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 440 subsidiary and regional companies in some 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch's global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network covers nearly every country in the world. With its more than 400 locations worldwide, the Bosch Group has been carbon neutral since the first quarter of 2020. The basis for the company's future growth is its innovative strength. At 128 locations across the globe, Bosch employs some 76,100 associates in research and development, of which more than 38,000 are software engineers.

About SLM Solutions
SLM Solutions is a global provider of integrated metal additive manufacturing solutions. Leading the industry since its inception, it continues to drive the future of metal AM in every major industry with its customers’ long-term success at its core. SLM Solutions is home to the world’s fastest metal additive manufacturing machines boasting up to 12 lasers and enabling build rates up to 1000ccm/h. With a portfolio of systems to suit every customer's needs, along with its team of experts closely collaborating at every stage of the process, SLM Solutions leads the way on return on investment with maximum efficiency, productivity, and profitability. SLM Solutions believes that additive manufacturing is the future of manufacturing and has the desire and capability to take its customers there – right now.

SLM Solutions is a publicly-traded company headquartered in Germany, with subsidiaries in Canada, China, France, India, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States.

Further information is available on www.slm-solutions.com