Williams FW37 Mercedes racecar on the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 28, 2015. Williams and EOS have entered a new three-year technical partnership for jointly exposing select customers to the world of Formula One with the aim of illustrating the use of additive manufacturing. (Image: Steven Tee/Williams F1)
EOS is bringing its additive manufacturing expertise to the world of Formula One racing after agreeing to a three-year technical partnership with Great Britain-based Williams Grand Prix Engineering and Williams Advanced Engineering.
Under the arrangement, EOS will educate Williams on the newest AM technologies that it provides, and how they could improve Williams’ current manufacturing practices. Williams has also received the EOSINT P 760, a modular system used for the additive manufacturing of polymer parts. The system can produce parts up to 700 mm x 380 mm x 580 mm.
Also under the agreement, both of the companies will bring additive manufacturing practices to Formula One.
“The partnership will allow EOS and Williams to jointly expose selected customers to the world of Formula One with the aim of illustrating the use of AM in this technically advanced industry,” Stuart Jackson, regional manager at EOS UK said in a press release announcing the partnership.
Jackson added, “Through its Williams Advanced Engineering business, Williams provides technical innovation that transfers Formula One technology solutions focusing on sustainability and energy efficiency to mainstream industries such as automotive, motorsport, transport, energy and other sectors. As such, the partnership is a perfect fit for us as we truly believe that all parties involved will highly benefit from this interchange of ideas.”
Williams’ involvement with EOS stretches beyond the recent agreement, as the company had already owned two polymer EOS systems. Williams uses EOS’ Alumide and CarbonMide as its regular production material. Combined with carbon composite laminates, the company uses CarbonMide to create parts used in Formula One cars. Alumide from EOS is typically used by Williams to develop consistent parts for a number of functional testing practices, such as the assembly of engine ancillaries and complete gearbox assemblies.
“At its core, Williams is a racing team but has many facets to its business in which opportunities for AM applications reside,” said Williams’ production manager of Composites and ADM, as quoted by EOS. “EOS can help us to turn these opportunities into performance.”
Filed Under: Industrial automation