PRESS RELEASE 3 DECEMBER 2018

A hard metal (cemented carbide) produced in a shape of the customer’s choice, without sintering or cutting. Minimal material waste. A patented alloy that is heat resistant up to 750°C. After years of research, VBN Components is the first company to succeed with this innovation.

VBN Components, the company that gave us ”The World’s Hardest Steel” in 2017 is now launching yet another milestone within materials development. After years of research the patented hard metal Vibenite® 480 is now ready. The alloy is corrosion resistant and also extremely heat and wear resistant. The fact that it is produced by additive manufacturing / 3D-printing is absolutely ground-breaking. It enables complex shapes for industrial tools and components and reduces environmental impact to an absolute minimum.

“It is a particular kind of joy for me, as a material developer, to introduce such ground-breaking news within the area of hard metals. We turn the page in the book of Swedish material history”, says Ulrik Beste, PhD Materials Science and Tribology, CTO of VBN Components.

Increased productivity and reduced environmental impact

Vibenite® 480 is based on metal powder produced through large scale industrial gas atomisation. This minimises both cost and environmental impact. The new material combines the toughness of powder metallurgy high speed steels (PM-HSS) with the heat resistance of cemented carbides, which is why this new group of materials is named hybrid carbides. Within 3D-printing it has long been a wish to produce alloys with high carbide content. VBN Components now proves, more than ever, that they master this technique. Their Vibenite® 480 has a carbide content of ~65%, making it tougher than regular hard metals and therefore suitable for more complex details.

Drilling, milling and turning are no longer needed. Mixing of powder, drying and pressing becomes redundant. Vibenite® 480 is niched both towards applications where steel is normally used, but where production efficiency could increase when changing to hard metal, and also towards hard metal applications with complex geometry.

Practically this means that metal cutting tools which today are manufactured through machining of steel bars, could be replaced by the hybrid carbide and run with higher speed, thanks to higher heat resistance. As mentioned, complex shapes is one of the benefits when 3D-printing Vibenite® 480, but you can also produce much larger objects in one single piece, than with traditional hard metal technique. This increases the number of possible usage areas and makes it easy to make prototypes; you can print 1, 10 or 1000 items from one or several prints.

“We have learned an enormous amount on how to 3D-print alloys with high carbide content and we see that there’s so much more to do within this area. We have opened a new window of opportunity where a number of new materials can be invented”, says Martin Nilsson, CEO of VBN Components.

VBN Components’ technology enables significantly shorter lead times and increased performance, as well as environmental benefits through large material savings and fewer transports. The material is well adapted for products with extreme demands of wear and heat resistance, such as tools for thermoforming, diecasting, cutting and woodworking. Rock drilling is another evident application where VBN Components has already started a collaboration with Swedish company Epiroc.

VBN Components will invite ”early adopters”, those who wish to be the first to enjoy the benefits of this technology, to a web conference. If you have an interest to participate, or want to know more about the material, please email: info@vbncomponents.com

Click here to watch the video about the new material.

 

Facts on hard metal / cemented carbide  Hard metal was first patented in Germany in the 1920’s, but did not really start to be used until the 1950’s. Back then, it was mostly used as a wear resistant material for tools used in light bulb production. Today hard metals are one of the most important material groups within rock drilling, metal cutting tools and other high wear components like valves and pumps. A typical hard metal has 10% Co and 90% carbides.

Facts Vibenite® 480 Material type: Patented hybrid carbide / hard metal. Carbide content: ~65% Hardness: ~67 HRC Heat resistance: 750°C Corrosion resistant Produced with gas atomised metal powder through 3D-printning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRESS RELEASE 13 November 2018

VBN Components honoured with German innovation award

New, wear resistant alloys which enhance life-span and capacity for industrial tools and components. Optimised material use and production that saves energy. The Swedish company’s patented materials are now honoured with German innovation award.  

Through ground breaking technology, Swedish VBN Components has contributed to a technical and digital paradigm shift, influencing how production and business in the steel sector will be handled in the future. This is the motivation for the innovation prize, awarded by German AGS SPD. In addition to innovation, sustainability is also taken into consideration. To manufacture alloys in this way gives energy savings of about 90%, due to minimal material waste and optimised production technique.

For ten years VBN Components has developed patented, wear resistant alloys that are turned into industrial components through 3D-printing. In addition to extreme wear resistance, achieved through small, well dispersed carbides, the materials branded Vibenite® are also unique thanks to being pore free. There are many examples of applications where metal cutting tools made of Vibenite® last longer and cut deeper than corresponding tools in traditional materials.

”It means a great deal that VBN Components is being recognised at a European level with this award. Germany is an important business partner to us and the prize will give us new connections on one of Europe’s most important markets”, says Ulrik Beste, CTO and co-founder.

The award is politically independent, but founded by Germany’s second largest political party SPD and its business association AGS, with 34 000 members. Earlier this year VBN Components was nominated by a local branch in the city of Uppsala. Representatives of SPD, the German government and the European Parliament will attend the ceremony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For further information, please contact:

VBN Components in brief

VBN Components AB is a Swedish, frontline materials development company founded in 2008. The company manufactures wear-resistant metal components directly from powder, so-called 3D-printing (additive manufacturing, free forming), which improve the competitiveness of the engineering industry. VBN Components has won numerous awards and is an alumnus from Uppsala Innovation Centre, ranked as the world’s 4^th best business incubator with university connection. The company provides Near-Net-Shape components branded Vibenite® to clients needing metal components with high complexity and/or extreme wear-resistance. www.vbncomponents.com

PRESS RELEASE 15 October 2018

VBN Components celebrates 10 years of materials development

Metal materials with remarkable properties. This has been the driving force for the Swedish company VBN Components since the very start. Today they look back at hard work and countless experiments that have led to patented alloys with unique performance.

In the middle of the financial crisis in 2008, the foundation was laid for what would become VBN Components AB. The world was at a crossroads and uncertainty was high in a time when companies had more order cancellations than actual orders. Here it was, the opportunity to turn the business upside down by using additive manufacturing (3D-printing) of high strength, carbide rich materials. Materials that have taken shape through extensive analysing, as well as testing of different free forming techniques.

“Our strength was a broad experience of industrial methods at the time, implying complicated processes and extended lead times. There was a significant limitation to what materials a mechanical engineer could choose, which we wanted to change”, says Ulrik Beste, CTO and one of the founders.

VBN Components nurtures the Swedish heritage within the metal industry by continuously developing new and better materials. The corrosion and wear resistant Vibenite® 350 was a perfect fit to the plastics industry, where there is a demand for complex shapes and high performance. Next in line was Vibenite® 290,” World’s Hardest Steel”, which reached global awareness with its unique properties. The performance of the steel has proven to significantly raise production capacity for industrial tools, quite according to plan.

“After our first patent, describing the process of making extremely clean and low-oxygen-rate materials, we realised that we were on to something big”, says Martin Nilsson, CEO and one of the founders.

In 2018 the company celebrates 10 years. They have several patents and innovation awards for new, hard materials to show for it. And there is more to come. Shortly, the greatest news in the history of the company will be unveiled, described as “a revolution in material development”.

Watch the film on World’s hardest steel (possible to choose English or German subtitles)

 

 

 

 

 

 

For further information, please contact:

Isabelle Bodén, Press Contacts

VBN Components AB

Switchboard: +46 (0)18-24 07 60

Cell phone: +46(0)702-36 22 81

Email: Isabelle.boden@vbncomponents.com

Website: www.vbncomponents.com

Press Center: https://vbncomponents.se/press/

VBN Components in brief

VBN Components AB is a frontline materials development company that manufactures wear-resistant metal components directly from powder, so-called 3D-printing (additive manufacturing, free forming). The company, which has won numerous awards, is conducting a range of important customized projects to improve the competitiveness of the engineering industry. VBN is an alumnus from Uppsala Innovation Centre, ranked as the world’s 4^th best business incubator with university connection. The company provides Near-Net-Shape components branded Vibenite® to clients needing metal components with high complexity and/or extreme wear-resistance. www.vbncomponents.com

PRESS RELEASE 27 November 2017 

(Please go to our Press Center for pdf versions)

Swedish Company Launches World’s Hardest Steel

Steel that does not need forging or machining to turn into a finished product. The hardest and most wear-resistant metal on the market. Any shape you wish can be produced. And as a bonus, considerably less material is consumed. Swedish company VBN Components continues to make steel history.

VBN Components, based in Uppsala, Sweden, produces steel using additive manufacturing, so-called 3D-printing. This means that metal powder is melted layer-by-layer into the shape of your choice. The company’s technology makes it possible to manufacture industrial tools and components, such as drills and cutters, in the shape end-users choose and in metals of extremely high quality. Its new steel has a wear resistance that substantially increases the life-span and efficiency of products, which also lowers material consumption. In contrast, traditional steel manufacturing is not able to produce a tool with the qualities of this new steel: it would be too hard to process, cut or shape, for example.

“The limitations of traditionally-made products result in a compromise. Instead of choosing the material best-suited to the product in mind, producers are instead forced to use a material that they can process. By focusing on material performance, we turn this completely around”, says Martin Nilsson, CEO of VBN Components.

Large market

VBN Components’ new, wear-resistant steel is unique. The engineering industry has a constant need to find tool and component materials with increased wear and heat resistance, but until now has come up against numerous obstacles to finding the ideal material. The properties of the new steel not only overcome these limitations, but also shorten lead-times thanks to fewer processing steps. Companies using these products will increase productivity, thereby saving money, and lower their environmental impact. What’s more, competitors are far behind in wear resistance. This makes VBN Components’ worldwide market very large.

VBN Components has been producing extremely hard and wear-resistant steel products using this technique for many years. Step-by-step, the company has moved towards what is today the world’s hardest steel – a milestone in materials development.

The need for less material in both end-use and manufacturing is one of the reasons why environmental impact is reduced by 90% compared to traditional industry (according to tests at one large Swedish company).

“Many people we’ve talked to have doubted that we could achieve ‘the impossible’. Today we’re very proud to introduce this unique metal. Its users will enjoy all its aspects of more environmentally-friendly manufacturing and be able to increase their competitiveness”, says Ulrik Beste, CTO of VBN Components.

For further information, please contact:

Isabelle Bodén, Press Contacts

VBN Components AB

Switchboard: +46 (0)18-24 07 60

Cell phone: +46(0)702-36 22 81

Email: Isabelle.boden@vbncomponents.com

Website: www.vbncomponents.com

Press Center: https://vbncomponents.se/press/

VBN Components in brief

VBN Components AB is a frontline materials development company that manufactures wear-resistant metal components directly from powder, so-called 3D-printing (additive manufacturing, free forming). The company, which has won numerous awards, is conducting a range of important customized projects to improve the competitiveness of the engineering industry. An alumnus from Uppsala Innovation Centre, ranked as the world’s 10^th best business incubator, VBN is supported by the Swedish Energy Agency. The company provides Near-Net-Shape components branded Vibenite® to clients needing metal components with high complexity and/or extreme wear-resistance. www.vbncomponents.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRESSMEDDELANDE 27 November 2017 

(Vänligen se vårt pressrum för pdf-versioner)

Svenskt företag lanserar världens hårdaste stål

Stål som varken kräver smide eller skärande bearbetning för att bli en färdig produkt. En metall som är den hårdaste och mest nötningståliga på marknaden. De former man önskar går att tillverka. Dessutom går det åt betydligt mindre material. Företaget VBN Components fortsätter skriva svensk stålhistoria.  

VBN Components, baserat i Uppsala, tillverkar stål genom additiv tillverkning, så kallad 3d-printning. Det innebär att metallpulver smälts i lager på lager till önskad form. Företagets teknologi gör det möjligt att tillverka industriella verktyg och komponenter, till exempel borrar och fräsar, i de former man önskar och i metaller av extremt hög kvalitet. Företagets nya stål har en nötningstålighet som kraftigt ökar livslängden och effektiviteten på produkter, vilket också innebär minskat materialbehov. Genom traditionell ståltillverkning är det inte möjligt att tillverka ett verktyg med det nya stålets kvaliteter. Det vore för hårt att processa, för svårt att skära i eller att forma.

”Begränsningarna hos traditionellt tillverkade produkter resulterar i en kompromiss. Istället för att välja det material som bäst passar slutprodukten, måste man välja det material som kan tillverkas. Vi vänder på det och arbetar med fokus på materialprestanda”, säger Martin Nilsson, VD på VBN Components.

Stor marknad

Det nya stålet är unikt. Konkurrenter på marknaden ligger långt efter i nötningstålighet. Verkstadsindustrin har ständigt behov av att hitta material som har bättre nötnings- och värmetålighet för specifika syften. Tidigare har man ofta stött på otaliga begränsningar i sina ansträngningar att hitta det bästa materialet för verktyg och komponenter. Det nya stålet har en nötningstålighet som kraftigt ökar livslängden och effektiviteten på produkterna. Dessutom minskar ledtiden avsevärt tack vare färre processteg. De företag som använder produkterna kommer att öka sin produktivitet, dvs spara pengar, och minska miljöbelastningen.

VBN Components har tillverkat stålprodukter med denna teknik i flera år; extremt hårt och nötningståligt stål. Steg för steg har företaget tagit sig till det som idag är världens hårdaste stål, en milstolpe inom materialutveckling.

Behovet av mindre material vid slutanvändningen och vid själva tillverkningen är ett av skälen till att miljöpåverkan reduceras med ungefär 90 % jämfört med traditionell industri (visat hos svenskt verkstadsföretag).

”Många vi pratat med inom branschen har tvivlat på att vi skulle lyckas med ’det omöjliga’. Idag är vi väldigt stolta över att introducera denna unika metall med allt vad den
innebär för en miljövänligare tillverkningsprocess och för kunders konkurrenskraft”, säger Ulrik Beste, Teknisk chef på VBN Components.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

För vidare information, vänligen kontakta:

Isabelle Bodén, Presskontakter

VBN Components AB

Växel: +46 (0)18-24 07 60

Mobil: +46(0)702-36 22 81

Email: Isabelle.boden@vbncomponents.com

Web: www.vbncomponents.com

Presscenter: https://vbncomponents.se/press/

Om VBN Components

VBN Components är ett svenskägt företag, grundat 2009 av Peter Vikner, Ulrik Beste och Martin Nilsson. Grundarna belönades år 2013 med Sveriges största uppfinnarpris, SKAPA Utvecklingsstipendium. Företaget tillverkar nötningståliga metallkomponenter direkt från pulver med s.k. 3D-printing (Additiv tillverkning, friformning) och är involverat i en rad kundanpassade projekt för att öka verkstadsindustrins konkurrenskraft. VBN är alumn från Uppsala Innovation Centre, rankat som världens tionde bästa företagsinkubator, och stöds även av Energimyndigheten. Företaget tillverkar komponenter i nära-färdig-form under varumärket Vibenite® till kunder som har behov av komplexa former och/eller extremt nötningsmotstånd. www.vbncomponents.com

VBN Components är det första företaget på mycket länge som kan tillverka komponenter i kraftigt förbättrade metaller. Den unika 3D-printningen möjliggör också produktion av komplexa former som med traditionell tillverkning vore för svåra att bearbeta. VBN Components producerar dessutom hårdare material än något annat företag i branschen.

VBN Components drog stor uppmärksamhet till sig under den etablerade konferensen VDI Wissensforum i Bonn tidigare i år. Gensvaret var enormt positivt när Teknisk Chef Ulrik Beste höll en välbesökt presentation om företagets nötningståliga material, som dessutom framställts genom 3D-printning (additiv tillverkning).

Företaget var inbjudet att presentera den världsunika materialgruppen Vibenite på VDI Conference of Transmissions in Commercial Vehicles. Mässan är en del av en etablerad serie med kvalificerade, inbjudna talare där 1500 experter på transmissionssystem från hela världen årligen samlas.

Ulrik Beste presenterar VBN Components på Wissensforum.

– Det är en speciell känsla att presentera våra nyheter i en värld där alla talar om 3D-printning, men där höga forskningschefer från stora företag behöver fråga flera gånger om det verkligen är sant att vi kan göra bättre material än traditionellt. Och att de dessutom är 3D-printade, säger Ulrik Beste, Teknisk Chef på VBN Components.

Om VBN Components
VBN Components AB är ett materialföretag som ligger i teknikens framkant och tillverkar nötningståliga metallkomponenter direkt från pulver, med s.k. 3D-printning (additiv tillverkning, friformning). Företaget har vunnit en lång rad priser och genomför ett antal viktiga, kundnära projekt för att förbättra verkstadsindustrins konkurrenskraft. Företaget säljer Nära-Färdig-Form komponenter under varumärket Vibenite® till företag som behöver metallkomponenter med hög komplexitet och/eller högt nötningsmotstånd.
www.vbncomponents.com

VBN Components is the first company in a very long time that can manufacture components in highly improved metals. The unique 3D-printing also enables production of complex shapes which would be too difficult to process in traditional production. In addition, VBN Components produces harder materials than anyone else in the business.

VBN Components attracted great attention during the well-established conference VDI Wissensforum in Bonn, earlier this year. The response was enormously positive when Chief Technical Officer Ulrik Beste gave a well-attended speech about the company’s wear-resistant materials, that, in addition, are 3D-printed.

The company was invited to present the unique group of Vibenite materials at VDI Conference of Transmissions in Commercial Vehicles. The fair is part of an established series of qualified, invited speakers where 1500 experts in transmission systems from all over the world are reunited yearly.

 

– It’s a particular feeling to introduce our news to a world where everyone speaks of 3D-printing, but where Chief Scientific Officers from large companies need to ask multiple times if it’s really true that we can make better materials than the traditional ones. And, on top of it, that they’re 3D-printed, says Ulrik Beste, Chief Technical Officer at VBN Components.

VBN Components in brief
VBN Components AB is a frontline, material developing company that manufactures wear-resistant metal components directly from powder, a.k.a. 3D-printing (additive manufacturing, free forming). The company has won a number of awards and is performing a range of important customised projects to improve the competitiveness of the engineering industry. VBN provides Near-Net-Shape components branded Vibenite® to clients in need of metal components with high complexity and/or extreme wear-resistance. www.vbncomponents.com

Did we say it’s 3D-printed?

In addition, very high material yield – typically >98% – combined with superior performance and longer product lifetime significantly reduces environmental impact!

Download the press release as PDF:
170608 VBN Components launches the toughest stainless metal in the world

– och förresten, det är 3D-printat

 

Mikrostrukturen hos Vibenite®350 innehåller 20% krom, en hög halt av hårda karbider och är samtidigt helt fritt från kobolt. Tillverkningsprocessen resulterar i en slitstyrka som passar en mängd olika tillämpningar, exempelvis verktyg för tillverkning av plast, pumpar och pumphus, kullager och ventilsätesringar, såväl som slitdelar där korrosion är ett problem.

Som en framstående utvecklare av metalliska legeringar, har VBN Components idag två hårda och slittåliga material i produktportföljen, Vibenite®150 och Vibenite®280. Den nya legeringen, Vibenite®350, innebär nästa steg där vi kombinerar korrosionstålighet med hög hårdhet, excellent slittålighet med 3D-printing.

Hårda rostfria stål är ökänt svåra att bearbeta, men genom att tillverka med 3D-printing-teknik innebär detta ett stort industriellt framsteg. Med Vibenite®350 kan vi enkelt skapa ämnen i ”nära-färdig-form” för alla typer av extremt krävande produkter.

Med ett högt materialutbyte, typiskt över 98%, kombinerad med överlägsen prestanda och längre livslängd minskar detta kraftigt miljöbelastningen.

Ladda ned pressmeddelandet som PDF:

170608 VBN Components tänjer gränsen lanserar det tuffaste rostfria stålet i världen

The European Institute for Innovation and Technology’s Raw Materials (EIT Raw Materials) has funded a project where VBN Components will do product development for LKAB Wassara in water driven rock drilling.

VBN Components has a unique 3D-printing technique for manufacturing of wear resistant materials. LKAB Wassara develops and manufactures water driven down-the-hole rock drills with high energy efficiency and high precision.

This project is a series of development stages to fulfil the demands from LKAB Wassara, with a special focus on 3D-printing of thin wall thickness. The goal of the project is to enhance a quicker product development at LKAB Wassara, and forwards also manufacture components.

-This is a very interesting application for us and we are very happy for the cooperation. Traditionally, Sweden is very experienced in the rock drill area and this helps to climb one more step on the development stair. It is also a big recognition that VBN has been selected to be a part of the largest consortium in materials, the EIT Raw Materials. This means that VBN can reach a wide customer base normally difficult to reach, says Martin Nilsson, CEO of VBN Components.

For more information:
Martin Nilsson, CEO, PhD
VBN Components AB
Tel (vx): 018-24 07 60
E-post: martin.nilsson@vbncomponents.com
www.vbncomponents.com

The Swedish Energy Agency has granted SEK 4 million in funding to VBN Components for the development of new 3D-printed materials during two years. The company today has a highly modern steel plant in Uppsala, where highly durable steel components manufactured by 3D-printing under the brand name Vibenite.

VBN Components has today a technology that makes it possible to produce new materials by advanced 3D-printing, and for the development of new materials financing was needed. Through the Agency’s funding of 4 million VBN Components can now develop new materials directly applied to the company’s 3D printing technology.

With new materials designed more for specific applications, the total energy consumption is greatly reduced. The new materials will all have a very high wear resistance.

– We are proud that our 3D-printing technology gets this confidence from the Swedish Energy Agency. Based in our materials technology we are developing new alloys with properties that are difficult or impossible to produce with other methods, says Martin Nilsson, ceo of VBN Components.

The advantage of the materials to be developed are that they save energy and raw materials both in the traditionally environmentally impacting material production, but especially in the end use. The final customers will dramatically get improved performance of their components.

The development will be based in Uppsala together with experts in different areas of materials science.

For more information:
Martin Nilsson, CEO, PhD
VBN Components AB
Phone: (vx): 018-24 07 60
Email: martin.nilsson@vbncomponents.com
www.vbncomponents.com

Download the press release as PDF:

150918 PRESS RELEASE VBN Components recieves 4 mSEK from the Swedish Energy Agency