Renishaw acquires Germany-based additive manufacturing parts maker

Following this, Renshaw has established a new business, LBC Engineering, which will be integrated within Renishaw GmbH, in Pliezhausen. The new business will continue to offer services to its existing customers, the release adds - these services will be offered in the UK, too . Renishaw is already a player in the additive manufacturing technology field, following its acquisition of MTT in 2011. Rainer Lotz, managing director of Renishaw GmbH, said: "Through this acquisition, the Renishaw Group has gained excellent additional skills and experience, which will allow us to further develop our additive manufacturing business for a wide range of applications. The customers for our laser melting machines will benefit from this additional expertise, allowing them to quickly integrate this exciting new technology, with its many benefits, into their everyday processes." LBC Laser Bearbeitungs Center GmbH was established in 2002 as a service provider for laser inscription and 3D laser engraving, and is a recognised pioneer in metal-based additive manufacturing. The company has focused mainly on the additive manufacture of conformally cooled mould tools and tool inserts for injection moulding and die-casting applications. An important part of the service offered includes component design and simulation to maximise the economic benefits of the laser-melted inserts. Ralph Mayer and Marc Dimter, executive shareholders of LBC Laser Bearbeitungs Center GmbH, see important synergies for additive manufacturing: "Through the new relationship with Renishaw, we can drive this new technology forward together and specifically focus on meeting increased customer demands for stable processes and industrial use of additive manufacturing machines. Renishaw offers extensive technological knowledge and highly effective research and development from which our existing customers will also benefit." Image: (l to r) Marc Dimter and Ralph Mayer, LBC, and Rainer Lotz, Renishaw GmbH