Outokumpu, a global leader in sustainable stainless steel, began its foray into the metal powder market for additive manufacturing nearly a year ago. In April 2023, the company launched a pilot project to produce metal powder at its Krefeld, Germany production site.
The company’s goal is to enhance its innovation strategy and circular economy efforts by producing up to 330 tons of metal powder annually from 100pct recycled stainless steel scrap. After a successful first trial year, Outokumpu is moving into commercial production.
In addition, the company is initiating several R&D collaborations with diverse industries to explore innovative applications for steel powder. Partnerships include a collaboration with steel trading company Stahl Krebs as part of Germany’s REACT project, and a project with EIT Raw Materials and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland to develop nickel-free materials for the medical and jewelry industries. Outokumpu aims to produce unique metal powders tailored for demanding specialty applications. To support this, the company operates a proprietary test laboratory where customer-specific applications can be modified and validated on-site.
