Engineering trio launch additive manufacturing centre

Ian Campbell, Mike Kelly and Dr Bruno Le Razer have invested £750,000 into premises on Tachbrook Park in Leamington Spa and the acquisition of the latest metal additive manufacturing machine…an EOS M280 400 watt laser melting platform (pictured) – for their new venture Innovate 2 Make (i2M). Backed by support from the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), i2M says it is currently in talks with a number of blue chip clients about the possibility of re-designing critical components so they are lighter and more cost effective, while providing enhanced long-term performance. "Additive manufacturing has the potential to cause a paradigm shift in the way we design and make things…it is simple as that," explained Campbell, who has worked in air weapons in aerospace, Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), IBM, TWR and Arrows F1. "We can now manufacture from the 'inside out' and through the use of layers achieve angles and shapes that – a few years ago – would have been deemed impossible." Dr Bruno Le Razer, who is a qualified materials scientist and responsible for material development at the firm, said: "You can secure massive weight and cost savings by using alternative materials and embracing additive manufacturing. "We've already seen the effect of changing airline seat belt buckles from steel to titanium, with a total weight saving of 74kg achieved through this technology. Based on the lifecycle of an Airbus A380, this equates to a 3,300,000 litres fuel saving and 740,000 less tonnes of CO2 emissions. "We are currently working on a number of similar components that we believe can change the way the automotive, aerospace and medical sectors operate." i2Mhas plans to invest in a further laser machine by the end of the year and this will involve the creation of more local jobs.