The powder behind the parts

In an episode of the Arctic Podcast, Tekna's CEO Claude Jean explained what sets industrial-grade powder apart.

 "If you look at the way 3D printers work, you need to have powder that is extremely well controlled in size and shape because those parts are printed layer by layer. When printing an aviation engine for example, it is crucial to not have any kind of impurity or void in these parts."
 

Past the turning point 
When 3D printing emerged a few decades ago, it was used almost exclusively for prototyping. Today, the technology’s ability is changing the way key industries are looking at production. 3D printers can now produce parts up to one metre wide, and where a single laser once did the work, the most advanced machines now run 16 lasers in parallel. As capability has scaled, so has demand for high-quality powder. 

3D printing within aerospace and defence has moved beyond the research phase. In defence, qualification cycles for unmanned vehicles are moving significantly faster. In civil aviation, the next generation of engines is already being developed with 3D printing as a core manufacturing method, and volume production is on the horizon.

Reshaping global supply chains
The reshoring trend is accelerating the demand for high quality titanium powder. "We're seeing companies reshoring in the US, for example, and we're seeing this made possible by 3D printing," said Jean. Once a company makes the transition, going back is rarely on the table. "When you develop a part with 3D manufacturing, based on the weight and the speed, you will not go back to the traditional manufacturing methods."
 

The technology is also reshaping global supply chains. Traditional metallic part manufacturing starts with a block of metal, which is machined into shape and assembled from subcomponents sourced from suppliers around the world. 3D printing collapses that process. Complex parts can be designed and printed as a single unit, eliminating the need to wait on components shipped from across the globe.

Positioned ahead of demand

When Arendals Fossekompani purchased Tekna in 2014, a key point in the growth strategy was to become a major player within additive manufacturing and to achieve this goal, adding titanium alloy powders to the company’s product portfolio was critical. We had a strategic conviction that additive manufacturing would move from prototyping to industrial-scale production, and that high-quality metal powders would be critical to that shift. Adding titanium alloy powders to Tekna's product portfolio was a deliberate decision made 12 years ago. We positioned Tekna to be ready to deliver as the energy transition accelerated demand for lighter, more efficient components with shorter lead times and less material waste. 

These are qualities that matter enormously when the world needs to deploy clean energy infrastructure faster than traditional manufacturing can keep up. 


About TEKNA: 
Tekna is a world-leading provider of advanced materials and plasma systems for industrial applications. The company produces high-purity metal powders used in additive manufacturing for the aerospace and defence, medical and consumer electronics sectors, and develops optimised induction plasma systems used in industrial research and production.
 

Arendals Fossekompani Ownership: 72% 
Employees: 152 
Head Office: Sherbrooke, Canada 
Global megatrends: Advanced materials and manufacturing, industrial digitalisation, aerospace and space technologies, sustainable production, and health/medical innovation.