Industry Summary Articles

Höganäs acquires Metasphere Technology in Luleå, Sweden, a start-up that has developed a new technology for atomizing metals, carbides and ceramics at very high temperatures.

“Metasphere’s technology is unique and innovative,” says Fredrik Emilson, Höganäs CEO. “We will be able to offer new and specialized metal powders for surface coating and additive manufacturing, among other areas.”

Metasphere Technology, founded in 2009, atomizes metals to metal powder in a new and ground-breaking reactor, where plasma and centrifugal forces play vital roles. The technology allows melting and atomizing of different sorts of metals, for instance titanium, and many other materials at very high temperatures.

“Thanks to the high temperatures we can achieve very pure and spherical metal powders,” says Fredrik Emilson. “The metal powders produced today are especially well suited for surfaces that need wear, corrosion and impact resistance, for instance within mining, oil and gas and other heavy industries.”

The acquisition took place early November this year. Current customers are supplied with products from the pilot reactor. Work is ongoing to finalize the production reactor, which will be started during the first quarter of 2018.

“When we have scaled up to industrial production we will go to market with a broad spectrum of products, mainly within additive manufacturing, where there is a large demand for innovative materials.”

The high temperatures also enable atomizing of raw materials that are usually not suited for that kind of process, for instance carbides or ceramics. Some materials may not even be possible to recycle, but could be re-melted and atomized in Metasphere’s reactor. Thereby the technology can contribute to increased resource utilization and sustainability in society.

“This is a unique process and Metasphere’s plant is top notch,” says Fredrik Emilson. “We are excited about making the know-how and technology a part of Höganäs AB.”

To view the original press release, please click here.

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