Sweden-based mining equipment company Sandvik has expanded its additive offering by introducing 3D-printed components in cemented carbide.

The company said the new capacity is enabled by a patented process and tailor-made powder produced in-house.

Cemented carbide is widely used in, for example, wear-resistant parts across multiple industries. Due to its inherent hardness, the material can be challenging to machines, not least in complex geometries.

Anders Ohlsson, lead product manager at Sandvik division Additive Manufacturing, said: "Our ability to 3D print cemented carbide on a commercial scale offers customers design freedom and benefits like decreased material waste and longer component life."

Ohlsson also pointed out that 3D printing dramatically speeds up time-to-market for products.

"Using conventional component manufacturing techniques, prototyping can take 6-12 months - now our lead time to date is a matter of weeks," Ohlsson explained.