Beehive Industries Expands Metal AM Capacity with Nikon SLM NXG 600E Systems
Beehive Industries has acquired two Nikon SLM Solutions NXG 600E metal additive manufacturing systems to bolster its aerospace and defense offerings.
Beehive Industries has announced the purchase of multiple Nikon SLM Solutions NXG 600E metal additive manufacturing (AM) systems. This strategic acquisition significantly expands the company's metal AM capabilities, with one NXG 600E system designated for Constellium's Aheadd CP1 aluminum and the second for titanium Ti-64 (Ti-6Al-4V).
The investment is intended to support Beehive's commitment to delivering additively manufactured components to the aerospace and defense sectors. This move follows a recent $50 million investment by Beehive in 30 EOS metal AM machines, highlighting a substantial expansion of its production capacity. The NXG 600E is Nikon SLM Solutions' largest machine, featuring a substantial build envelope of 600 x 600 x 1500 mm and equipped with 12 1kW lasers.
According to the companies, the adoption of this large-format metal AM technology is expected to unlock new applications, including the production of complete vehicle bodies and large substructures for satellites. Beehive describes this latest investment as self-funded and aims to equip the company with a limited but elite capability within the United States. This move aligns with Beehive's strategy to support customers in the aerospace, defense, and space industries with advanced, large-format additive manufacturing solutions.
Darius Ehteshami, Chief Operations and Finance Officer at Beehive Industries, stated that the investment positions the company to provide aerostructures and parts that enable customers to achieve higher performance. Hamid Zarringhalam, CEO and General Manager of Nikon Advanced Manufacturing, emphasized that the NXG 600E platform will help scale production technology for defense programs. Jonaaron Jones, President of Additive Parts Sales at Beehive Industries, sees this as a natural evolution, extending the company's legacy of large-format expertise into next-generation manufacturing for external parts customers.
The acquisition of two large-format Nikon SLM NXG 600E systems by Beehive Industries signifies a significant step in scaling metal additive manufacturing for demanding sectors like aerospace and defense. These systems, capable of producing large components from specialized alloys, are crucial for applications such as satellite structures and potentially aerospace sub-assemblies, aligning with the broader industry push for larger, more complex parts through AM.
Edited by the news editor with AI from the original report — please refer to the original source.