InShaPe / BAYERISCHE FORSCHUNGSALLIANZ GMBH

InShaPe makes metal-based additive manufacturing faster, cheaper and more sustainable 

In many industrial sectors, such as the automotive industry, aerospace and the energy sector, the demand for lightweight, high-strength and mechanically highly resilient special metallic components is increasing. Modern gas turbines, for example, require extremely stable and at the same time lightweight heat shields. An important manufacturing process for this is the powder bed-based additive manufacturing of metals. This method is technically referred to as powder bed fusion of metals using laser beam (PBF-LB/M).

The InShaPe research and innovation project, funded by the EU with EUR 7.2 million, aims to make a decisive contribution to the further development of the technology. Under the coordination of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the Professorship for Laser-based Additive Manufacturing, eleven partners from eight countries are working together on the project.

The overall goal of InShaPe is to further develop and demonstrate an innovative powder bed fusion process for metals (PBF-LB/M). Compared to the current state of the art, the following advantages should be achieved: a seven times higher production rate; over 50 % lower costs; 60 % less energy consumption, and 30 % less waste. 

In the long term, the successful development and marketing of InShaPe technologies is intended to strengthen the European PBF-LB/M manufacturing industry as a leading provider of highly complex parts and set new best-in-class standards for digital, resource-conserving and agile laser-based production methods.

At the LANE conference, the Bavarian Research Alliance, abbreviated as BayFOR, represents the EU project InShaPe as a participating partner for Communication and Project Management.

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