17 May 2022

AM-Flow partners with Materialise as launching partner of Materialise’s CO-AM software platform

Dutch workflow automation company AM-Flow partners with Materialise to provide print users with fully integrated automated post-processing IT infrastructure to help scale AM factories.

Materialise has launched its software platform that allows AM-users to connect smoothly with various critical applications for workflow automation. AM-Flow, the current market leader in AM post-process workflow automation, is one of the launching partners on this platform allowing customers to plan, manage and optimize every stage of their AM operations. AM-Flow offers an open API-architecture connecting with multiple MES platforms, including the newly launched CO-AM.

“The next step change in the AM industry is automation. There are many digital dots to connect to create a full automation value chain. Teaming up with other solution providers of this chain is a prerequisite for the growth and scalability of Additive Manufacturing. AM-Flow is very excited to be one of the first partners of the CO-AM platform”, Stefan Rink, CEO AM-Flow.

The economics of Additive Manufacturing
The key KPI of the AM industry we need to impact is cost per part, which is also influenced by the manual interventions of 3D printed parts after they are produced.  If we can reduce cost per part by providing fully end-to-end automated AM production lines, more business cases become viable, and more applications can enter the AM arena. This in turn will impact perspectives on what is possible through AM and push adoption further. The resulting higher volumes will in turn impact pricing once again; cost per part then becomes the flywheel for scalability of the industry.

Connecting the data  from a wide range of AM applications like the AM-VISION with the identification of 3D printed parts in a cloud-based platform, CO-AM will help manufacturers unlock the full power of AM. To successfully scale their AM operations, manufacturers require an open software architecture that connects to a wide range of technologies and integrates with existing production infrastructures.

“We are excited to welcome AM-Flow as one of the first to join the CO-AM software platform”, says Vishal Singh, Senior Director Platform and Cloud Transformations at Materialise. “Offering their solutions for post-processing will help AM users to optimize their workflow. This partnership fosters the open nature of the CO-AM platform providing AM manufacturers the opportunity to combine their preferred technologies.”

To learn more about the automation of 3D print factories, visit AM-Flow at Rapid+TCT, booth 2631. Register your visit via https://am-flow.com/join-us-at-the-rapidtct-2022/