CONTACT US
- +44 (0) 121 233 8191
- sales@cookson-industrial.com
Events
Where You’ve Seen Us
- MACH 2024, NEC Birmingham
Earlier this year, we were thrilled to be a part of MACH 2024 at the NEC in Birmingham, where we showcased our pioneering work in precious metal additive manufacturing. Visitors had the chance to see firsthand how our technology is redefining the use of precious metals across various industries.
- Advanced Engineering Trade Show, NEC Birmingham
October 2024 we exhibited at the Advanced Engineering Trade Show at the NEC, where we unveiled our latest innovations and demonstrated how our solutions can drive the future of engineering. This was the perfect venue to see how we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with precious metals in modern industry.
- Formnext, Frankfurt, Germany
We had the incredible opportunity to exhibit at Formnext in Frankfurt, the leading global exhibition for additive manufacturing. Here, we showcased our state-of-the-art 3D printing capabilities, including our pioneering work in 3D printed gold, silver and platinum.
- SpaceTech Expo, Bremen, Germany
The SpaceTech Expo in Bremen, one of the most significant events in the space technology sector. We presented our specialised solutions for the aerospace industry, focusing on how our precision metal components can contribute to the next generation of space exploration.
Where we’re going next
- Southern Manufacturing and Electronics show
We’re excited to announce that Cookson Industrial will be exhibiting at Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2025, the UK’s leading show for design, engineering, production, and procurement professionals.
Dates: 4th–6th February 2025
This must-attend event brings together the latest in production hardware, components, consumables, and cutting-edge technologies across diverse industries, including Aerospace, Automotive, Medical, Electronics, and more. It’s a fantastic opportunity to discover innovative solutions and connect with professionals shaping the future of manufacturing.
At our stand, we’ll be showcasing our precision-engineered solutions, including advanced additive manufacturing and high-performance components tailored to meet the demands of modern industry.
Join us at Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2025 to see how Cookson Industrial can support your business with precious metal solutions for your innovative and manufacturing needs. Stay tuned for more updates as we gear up for this exciting event!
Stay Connected
We’re constantly exploring new opportunities and attending events that push the industry forward. Keep an eye on this page for updates on our exhibition schedule and discover where you can connect with us next. Whether you’re in the UK, Germany, or anywhere in between, we’d love to meet you and discuss how our expertise in precious metals can benefit your business.
We look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events
News & PR
Cookson Industrial and Renishaw Collaborate on Groundbreaking 3D Printing Innovation
We’re excited to announce a significant collaboration between Cookson Industrial and Renishaw, a global leader in precision engineering technologies, to advance the cost-effective 3D printing of platinum group metals (PGMs). This joint effort combines Renishaw’s expertise in metal additive manufacturing with Cookson Industrial’s deep knowledge of high-performance precious metals, creating groundbreaking advancements in this specialized field.
Together, we’re developing efficient, innovative solutions for producing components using some of the world’s most expensive materials, including platinum. These materials are traditionally difficult to shape and costly to work with, but our collaboration enables us to produce precision components with reduced waste and optimized cost-effectiveness.
This partnership also reflects our commitment at Cookson Industrial to pioneering advancements in precious metal applications for industrial sectors such as automotive, aerospace, and jewelry manufacturing. By harnessing Renishaw’s advanced additive manufacturing systems, we’re able to expand the range and complexity of components we can offer, achieving new benchmarks for efficiency, sustainability, and precision.
For more details on this exciting collaboration, visit the official announcement by Renishaw here. Stay tuned as we continue to drive innovation in the 3D printing of platinum group metals, delivering unprecedented value to our clients and partners.
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PRECIOUS OPPORTUNITIES – How New Additive Techniques are Unlocking the Next Era of Aerospace Research
On paper, fine jewellery and space engineering don’t seem to share much in common. One is considered more of an artform and the other a science.
It’s only when you look at precious metals that the connection becomes clearer. And now, with the latest developments in additive manufacturing (AM), you can essentially draw a direct line between the two.
This is a new area of research and development. Businesses with a history handling precious metals are now being asked to design, develop and deliver printed parts for use in some of the most extreme and technically challenging environments found anywhere on earth – and beyond. Without the right knowledge and production capabilities, however, this process is incredibly challenging.
So, what does best practice look like?
The connection between jewellery and space is less surprising when looking at the special properties of many precious metals. Take platinum. It has a very high melting point, is chemically inert and also highly resistant to corrosion and oxidation.
Yet, for all their use, precious metals have a high barrier of entry. They are – on the whole – incredibly expensive and even minor material losses from poor handling can lead to huge costs. To put it in context, five kilos of platinum loaded into the machine – roughly the amount required to print 6-8g parts – will cost in the region of £140,000. Even if a project were to lose
a fraction of this total material during the R&D or manufacturing process, the balance could easily run into the thousands.
Minimising material losses
The latest advances in AM have been nothing short of game-changing for the use of precious metals in space. In raw form, these materials are very difficult to manufacture using traditional methods as a fully dense structure is difficult to achieve. By its nature, subtractive manufacturing also creates a higher volume of waste and off-cuts, making it unsuitable for projects where the starting cost for production is already very high.
But there are also practical challenges. With platinum, welding, casting or brazing intricate shapes is very challenging. And it’s also difficult to hollow out – a key method for minimising weight in aerospace projects. This is not a problem with AM as the starting material is fundamentally different and parts are produced using only the exact amount needed.
Platinum is an advantageous material for AM, with densities of 99.9% easily achievable. But the right experience and in-house knowledge is needed to manufacture the right part at the right cost. Cookson, for instance, has extensive capabilities in alloy development given its background. Depending on a customer’s requirements, the company can choose from a standard selection of in-stock alloys or develop an entirely new one suited to the application in question. These alloys can use precious metals, such as rhodium or iridium, or non-precious metals in their makeup. They are then atomised into a powder suitable for AM and printed according to specified geometries. Working this way makes it far easier to produce complex designs that would otherwise be unattainable when using traditional methods. That is, unless a team is willing to invest a huge amount of time and money.
Still, AM on its own is not enough. Powdered precious metals are much harder to process effectively without the right tools. The risk of loss is still high – except at this point the amount of precious metal that could send a project into the red is effectively microscopic. Without the right control measures in place, a project could easily lose 10% or more of its powdered precious metal. An unworkable scenario.
This is a problem some organisations have faced when developing their own precious metal AM parts. And it’s the main reason why businesses like Cookson are now being brought into the fold. Cookson’s industrial division has invested heavily into its AM production and control measures in recent years, and this along with a long history in precious metals has drawn the attentions of major players in the aerospace sector.
One of the business’s standout projects has focused on the development of in-space water propulsion, using a platinum insert as the catalyst for a hydrogen-oxygen thruster. These so-called ‘green thrusters’ have received a lot of attention and investment in recent years. To date, there are none operational in space but there are hundreds of organisations working to launch the first. Green thrusters are deemed preferable to existing designs because they avoid the use of highly toxic liquid propellants.
Self-supporting structures allow highly complex parts to be manufactured quickly and accurately, whereas it is nearly impossible to manufacture the same parts traditionally – i.e with CNC machining, welding and casting. Platinum is a particularly strong candidate material for small satellite thruster applications due to a melting point around 1,768°C (3,214°F), making it highly resistant to extreme temperatures. Its oxidation resistance and chemical inertness also ensure longevity as there is a much smaller chance of degradation or adverse reactions with other materials.
Without the right processes in place – and knowledge of how to develop AM parts for critical environments – this figure is very difficult to achieve.
Selassie Dorvlo is Technical & Production Director at Cookson Industrial. For more information on precious metal AM, visit: www.cookson-industrial.com.
COOKSONGOLD UNVEILS NEW INDUSTRIAL DIVISION TO PIONEER PRECIOUS METALS USE IN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING APPLICATIONS
Cooksongold has launched a new industrial division to pioneer the use of precious metal additive manufacturing (AM) for a range of performance-critical applications.
Part of HM Precious Metals, Cookson Industrial, will provide an end-to-end service comprising of consultancy, R&D, NPD and production. This includes conventional and subtractive manufacturing alongside its additive capabilities; all of which will be managed from its Birmingham head office and manufacturing site.
The use of precious metals in additive manufacturing offers organisations a new frontier for performance in extreme environments, where traditional alloys have failed to meet the thermal and material application challenges presented. Cookson Industrial aims to help organisations looking to explore the technology to de-risk their development, simplify their supply chains and shorten time to market.
The company develops and manufactures a broad range of gas atomised precious metal powders on site, including gold, silver, platinum and palladium powders; all of which are refined from recycled sources where possible.
All precious metal powders are available for purchase in small batches up to 15kg, or for use in Cookson Industrial’s state-of-the-art additive manufacturing facility in Birmingham. This currently comprises six EOS Precious M 080 and M 100 AM machines, alongside a Renishaw AM 500S Flex single laser AM machine.
Cookson Industrial has already partnered with the University of Birmingham to explore the development of precious metal alloys for additive manufacturing applications across the aerospace, healthcare and glass fibre manufacturing industries. Both organisations were jointly awarded a £750k Early-stage Prosperity Partnership funding from the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Leveraging Cooksongold’s 100-year heritage in jewellery and luxury product manufacturing, the company is also currently working with Bentley Motors to manufacture a series of components for its Batur by Mulliner line.
Nikesh Patel, Head of Cookson Industrial, comments: “While the use of precious metals in additive manufacturing has largely been confined to the jewellery, luxury lifestyle industries, many more organisations are beginning to explore its potential for use in critical applications.”
Aerospace is seen as a key growth market for Cookson Industrial. The company is actively exploring new developments in satellite thruster design to help de-weight parts and reduce the volume of hazardous materials used in the manufacturing process compared to chemical thruster design.
Nikesh continues: “For extreme environments such as aerospace, where there is no room for compromise, the performance characteristics of precious metals can offer a whole new world of design parameters compared to traditional alloys.
“There is also a lot of dynamism in the UK aerospace sector with many legacy processes set for disruption. However, given the significant cost of the powders themselves – a full hopper often outweighs the purchase price of the AM machine – many organisations have struggled to fully commit to R&D. As we produce and print with our own powder supply, we can help derisk the process by offering the optimum parameters for powder production, storage and use. This will help reduce powder loss and the associated impact on project costs, while giving organisations access to one of the most innovative production environments in the UK.”
For more information, please visit: www.cookson-industrial.com
Cookson Industrial to Showcase the Potential for Precious Metal Additive Manufacturing at Southern Manufacturing
Cookson Industrial aims to showcase how UK subcontractors can unlock the potential of precious metals in advanced manufacturing applications at Southern Manufacturing & Electronics Show 2025 (4-6 February 2025).
The stand (A315) will include a range of example components produced using precious metal additive manufacturing (AM), as well as samples of the company’s gas atomised precious metal powders, industrial precious metal refining, and semi-finished capabilities. The use of precious metals in these areas offers subcontractors a new frontier for material performance in extreme environments, where traditional alloys have failed to meet the thermal and material application challenges presented.
Part of HM Precious Metals, Cookson Industrial aims to help organisations looking to explore the use of precious metals in industrial applications to de-risk their development, simplify their supply chains, and shorten time to market.
Aerospace is a key growth area for Cookson Industrial, where the company is helping deliver new satellite thruster designs to help decrease the weight of components and reduce the volume of hazardous materials such as hydrazine which are traditionally used in the manufacture of chemical thrusters.
Cookson Industrial’s state-of-the-art additive manufacturing facility is located in Birmingham. This currently comprises EOS Precious M 080 and M 100 AM machines, alongside a Renishaw AM 500S Flex single laser AM machine.
The company’s cutting-edge precious metal AM solutions offer a gateway to quality and innovation in the realm of 3D printing, a service which has seen increasing demand within the industry. Visitors to Southern Manufacturing & Electronics Show are invited to see what Cookson Industrial can offer by speaking to its expert team and exploring AM printed pieces such as lattice structures – highlighting the complex designs the company can produce.
Nikesh Patel, Head of Cookson Industrial, comments: “The Southern Manufacturing & Electronics Show is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our new products to the UK’s subcontract manufacturing base, especially given their role in the country’s burgeoning aerospace industry.
“Previously, the use of precious metals in manufacturing has largely been confined to jewellery and luxury lifestyle applications. We are pushing to redefine precious metals for AM and visiting us at the show will clearly demonstrate the leaps and bounds we have made towards exploring its potential for use in performance-critical manufacturing applications.”
For more information on precious metal AM at Cookson Industrial, visit: www.cookson-industrial.com.