Explore all 3D printing solutions offered by GKN Powder Metallurgy through our two brands —

Forecast 3D

and

GKN Additive

Metal Binder Jetting (MBJ)

The longtime partnership between Forecast 3D and HP has led to the industrialization of binder additive manufacturing for serial production.

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1-5 days

Average lead time for a prototype

50+

Materials to choose from

5 min

Typical time to place an order

From detailed features to massive structures

The binder jetting 3D-printing process for metal parts yields extremely high build rates, with a scaling potential that harnesses GKN Powder Metallurgy’s longtime experience in the sintering of high-performance metal parts and products for mass production, dating back to when its first sinter metal plant opened in Bonn, Germany, in the 1930s.

Unlike other AM technologies, Metal Binder Jetting (MBJ) is not limited to prototyping or small-batch production. As a sinter-based process, the finished parts have characteristics suitable for real-world applications.

The sample parts already correspond almost completely to the finished series parts, which means that the process enables scalable 3D metal printing with exact reproduction of the most complex shapes — not only on an industrial scale, but also within the desired time and cost framework.

Leverage our extensive know-how in the sintering process and in metal injection molding production for 20+ years. Take advantage of our “Design-for-Binder” consulting services, which include product engineering and a focus on optimization potential so that we can spark new ideas and realize our customers’ dream designs.

Benefits

Effectiveness: most effective metal AM process
Speed: very high build rates up to 2,000 ccm/h
Potential: more than 1,000 parts/year (no maximum limit) technology build for serial production
Choice: high variety of metals and high-performance alloys availabler
Complexity: complex designs with higher-resolution details than laser AM or investment casting
Size: minimum wall thickness: >0.5mm

Materials

Select from a range of materials made for MBJ

No materials found

Need help choosing? Contact our experts

Finishing

Finishing options to enhance parts printed with MBJ

Paint

Enhance your parts with custom coatings that provide durability, UV resistance, and premium finishes in any color or texture you need.

Technical specifications

Maximum part envelope:
Any size

Finish appearance:
Variable

Surface roughness:
Less than 1 µm

Design considerations

Complex masking requirements may require additional processing time.

Custom spray texturing available upon request.

Texturing

Add functional or aesthetic appeal with digitally applied textures from our standard library, including knurling, wood grain, and leather patterns.

Technical specifications

Maximum part envelope:
Any size

Finish appearance:
Variable

Surface roughness:
Variable

Design considerations

Available texture options vary based on the process used.

Need help choosing? Contact our experts

"Thanks to GKN Additive’s tremendous know-how, we benefit from a highly innovative and flexible process with clear cost advantages in volume production."

Thomas Rivoire

Industrialization leader at Schneider Electric

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