Metal 3D Printing Expands to Hydraulics & Fluid Power Systems

Desktop Metal has acquired Aidro, an additive manufacturing company based in Taino, Italy that focuses on volume production hydraulic and fluid power systems for oil and gas, agricultural equipment, aerospace, mobile and industrial machinery.

The acquisition is one in a string of companies added to Desktop Metal’s portfolio since going public last August. Since January, Desktop Metal has acquired EnvisionTEC, Adaptive3D, Aerosint and ExOne.

Based in Boston, Desktop Metal has distribution in more than 60 countries across a spectrum of industries, including automotive, consumer products, industrial automation, medical devices, and aerospace and defense.

“This acquisition advances Desktop Metal’s strategy to support our major OEM customers with proprietary design and application know-how as well as through a combination of best-in-class AM products and high-value parts production across killer applications for AM 2.0,” said Ric Fulop, founder and CEO of Desktop Metal.

Since its inception in 1982, Aidro has designed and produced valves, manifolds, and various hydraulic components and fluid power systems. In 2017 the company introduced additive manufacturing, enabling production of Metal 3D printed products for the hydraulic sector. The company is led by siblings Valeria Tirelli (CEO) and Tommaso Tirelli (co-CEO and VP of business development).

Aidro’s expertise includes design for additive manufacturing, including finite element analysis simulation and topology optimization techniques. The company redesigns traditional hydraulic components for AM production using complex geometries to reduce weight, save space and consolidate multiple components into one, eliminating assembly and welding requirements. The company noted that hydraulic components produced using AM improve performance versus conventional manufacturing by optimizing flow channel placement and geometry to increase flow capacity and decrease pressure drops.

“This partnership is the next step in our AM evolution, and now, with access to Desktop Metal’s scale and industry-leading AM 2.0 technology portfolio—including its volume production-focused metal binder jetting solutions—we’re thrilled at the growth potential for Aidro,” said Valeria Tirelli.

This article appeared in Machine Design.