Nikon Corporation (Nikon) has announced its investment in Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies Global, Inc. (HMT), an industry leader in additive manufacturing (AM). HMT has developed an innovative approach that allows users to seamlessly integrate additive tools onto various platforms, revolutionizing the manufacturing process by combining multiple complementary technologies within a single setup.
Manufacturers often employ AM processes and machining concurrently to meet specific production goals and tolerances. HMT’s groundbreaking technology enables the benefits of additive manufacturing while preserving the precision and surface finish capabilities of computer numerical control (CNC) machining, all within a single system. With HMT’s patented AMBIT™ deposition heads, users can effortlessly switch between metal cutting and metal addition with a simple tool change, offering unparalleled flexibility. These tool-changeable heads are not limited to laser processes; they are also compatible with a wide range of materials and deployment methods. HMT can upgrade existing vertical platforms, enabling both additive and subtractive machining capabilities in a single system, or create customized solutions with tailored heads to meet users’ specific objectives.
Nikon is renowned for manufacturing some of the world’s most precise equipment, used in diverse applications, from semiconductor manufacturing and mass production of panels for televisions and smart devices to medical systems, automotive applications, and satellite technology. To accelerate the launch of new growth businesses, including advanced materials processing technologies, Nikon established the Next Generation Project Division. This division aims to achieve industrialization of digital manufacturing through strategic investments and alliances with leading companies worldwide.
Nikon’s recent investment in HMT will bring together their combined expertise to drive innovation and expand the hybrid manufacturing landscape. Yuichi Shibazaki, Nikon Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the Next Generation Project Division, expressed his optimism about this collaboration: “This investment in HMT is the latest component of our Next Generation Project program to further industrialization of digital manufacturing. As an industry leader with demonstrated collaborative capabilities, HMT and its AMBIT™ portfolio are well-matched with Nikon technologies. We look forward to working with them as part of our commitment to creating value and advancing society through novel industries like hybrid manufacturing.”
Dr. Jason B. Jones, HMT Co-founder and CEO, shared his enthusiasm for the partnership, saying, “We are honored to receive investment from such a longstanding technology leader as Nikon. Together we will more fully deliver on the promise of additive and digital manufacturing. We expect the results of this technology will touch the lives of virtually all people on earth in the coming decades.”
Peter Coates, HMT Co-founder and CTO, emphasized the significance of synergy in the collaboration: “Hybrid is all about synergy. For the better part of ten years in this industry, we have taken pride in the strategic nature of our collaborations, and our partnership with Nikon takes this to a whole new level by adding value to advanced manufacture.
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