Metal additive manufacturing continues to advance toward true industrial-scale manufacturing. Taking another step in this evolution, Oerlikon has commissioned a new ATLIX xBUILD 5000 metal additive manufacturing system at its Huntersville, North Carolina facility. The installation further strengthens Oerlikon's position as a leading additive component manufacturer and expands its ability to support customers across aerospace, defense and semiconductor industries.
Left to right: Todd Wilhite (Oerlikon Business Development Manager, Aerospace and Defense), Dan Haller (Oerlikon AM Head of Commercial), Charlie Grace (ATLIX President & Chief Revenue Officer), Matthias Himmelsbach (ATLIX CEO), Mike Tobin (Oerlikon AM General Manager), Jonas Vornholz (ATLIX Service Engineer)
Designed specifically for serial production, the xBUILD 5000 represents a new generation of highly automated laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) platforms focused on maximizing productivity, machine utilization and cost efficiency. The system features a large 500 x 500 x 400 mm build volume and four powerful 1 kW lasers, enabling high manufacturing throughput while maintaining excellent part quality.
One of the system's most innovative features is its automated build module conveyance system. Once a build is completed, the finished build module is automatically removed from the machine while a new module is loaded simultaneously. This enables the next production job to start almost immediately, reducing downtime to as little as 15 minutes and supporting continuous, 24/7 production.
The xBUILD 5000 installed in Huntersville is the first production system of its kind deployed worldwide. The investment complements Oerlikon's existing fleet of ATLIX systems, which have established themselves as production workhorses supporting demanding applications in the aerospace, defense and semiconductor sectors. With the addition of the xBUILD 5000, Oerlikon further expands its ability to deliver high-volume additive manufacturing components at industrial scale.
To support the company's ambitious growth targets, Oerlikon plans to continue investing in additional xBUILD 5000 systems beginning in 2027. This investment reflects the company's long-term commitment to advancing the industrialization of additive manufacturing.
"We are pleased to continue strengthening our partnership with ATLIX and are excited to add these innovative systems to our production fleet," said Dan Haller, Head of Commercial at Oerlikon AM.
"Oerlikon is one of the most experienced additive component manufacturers in the world, and its continued investment in ATLIX technology is the strongest validation we could ask for," said Matthias Himmelsbach, CEO of ATLIX. "Together, we are proving that metal AM can deliver at true industrial scale."