12-13-2017: GE Additive presented the first prototype of its Project H1 metal Binder Jetting 3D printer
It was made in record time
On December 13, 2017, GE Additive unveiled a prototype of its new metal Binder Jetting 3D printer—Project H1. This marked the company’s first step toward an alternative method of metal additive manufacturing after its acquisitions of Concept Laser (using PBF technology) and Arcam (using EBM technology).
Project H1 was developed at record speed—just 47 days from concept to the machine’s first print. However, the commercial version wasn’t launched until October 2022, when GE Additive introduced the Series 3.
The exceptionally fast development of the prototype was made possible by the dedicated work of engineers at GE’s technology center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The prototype was designed to produce components from a wide range of materials, including stainless steel, nickel alloys, and iron alloys, with productivity that significantly outperformed existing machines at the time. Its first print, symbolically marked with the number "47," commemorated the rapid timeline of the project.
GE Additive focused its efforts on its core sectors, such as aerospace and automotive. The Binder Jetting technology aimed to enable fast prototyping and large-batch production of components without the need for traditional casting methods.
At the time of the prototype’s debut, GE Additive was competing with companies like ExOne and Digital Metal, both of which specialized in producing small, precise components. Project H1 stood out with its larger production scale and a proprietary binder, which GE claimed offered superior performance and quality compared to competitors. Shortly after Project H1’s unveiling, Desktop Metal introduced its technology, followed in subsequent years by HP.
Project H1 was another step in GE Additive’s efforts to establish itself in the metal additive manufacturing sector, building on its earlier acquisitions of Concept Laser and Arcam.
On April 29, 2024, GE Additive rebranded as Colibrium Additive, reflecting major changes within GE itself.
Source: www.pressreleasefinder.com