H.C. Starck acquires minority stake in the Swedish start-up Metasphere Technology
Focus on further development and expansion of production technology for spherical metal powders, a key material for additive manufacturing
H.C. Starck, one of the leading producers of customer-specific powders and components made of technology metals and technical ceramics, has acquired a minority stake in one of Sweden's most innovative start-ups, Metasphere Technology. The company has developed an innovative, proprietary technology for the production of spherical metal powders, a material in high demand in growth industries such as additive manufacturing.
H.C. Starck and Metasphere Technology plan to build a new production line for spherical metal powders in Lulea (Sweden). The agreement secures H.C. Starck exclusive sales rights of the materials produced. H.C. Starck will also provide customer application technology support. The continued expansion of production capacity is planned as the market develops. Both partners have agreed not to disclose further details of the agreement.
H.C. Starck already produces special atomized metal powders for the additive manufacturing market and wants to expand its business activities there long-term. "With our many years of experience in the processing of technology metals and technical ceramics, we see great growth potential for our company in additive manufacturing," says Andreas Meier, CEO of the H.C. Starck Group. "Metasphere Technology is known in the market for its proven capacity to innovate and therefore is the right technology partner for us. Thanks to our cooperation, our two companies will not only grow in the additive manufacturing market but will even provide the industry itself with impetus for growth."
"We identified H.C. Starck as an ideal partner at an early stage. So we are pleased that we were able to win H.C. Starck as a new shareholder," said Metasphere Technology CEO Jan Wicén.
