Metalysis powers up its new Gen4 plant in South Yorks

The new “Gen4” unit marks Metalysis’ transition into commercial production following more than a decade of phased technology development.

Gen4 is the first facility to take Metalysis’ solid-state, modular, electrochemical process to industrial scale and can produce tens-to-hundreds of tonnes per annum of high value, niche and master alloys.

It creates a new UK source of supply for global end-users in advanced manufacturing disciplines including aerospace, automotive, batteries, light-weighting, magnets, mining and 3D printing consumables.

“In powering up and operating our industrial plant, Metalysis is poised to achieve its target to generate significant profits from our new South Yorkshire production facility,” Dr Dion Vaughan, chief executive officer said.

“Ours is a true British success story with international implications. Metalysis has grown from the ‘lightbulb moment’ at Cambridge University in the late-1990s, relocated to South Yorkshire to benefit from regional excellence in operational skillsets in the early-2000s, and now onwards towards a bright commercial future.

“We share this achievement with a number of partners, notably our plant-builder, K Home International, and our shareholders who have supported the journey.”

Gen4 enables Metalysis to commercially produce a demand-driven product mix of titanium alloys; master alloys, compositionally complex alloys, magnet materials, high temperature materials and Platinum Group Metal alloys.

In March the company announced that it had raised £12m to fund state-of-the-art post-processing facilities, feedstock and provide working capital to support the rollout of Gen4. Overall,

Approximately £25m has been raised to fund the project to completion.

The firm was set up to produce valuable metal alloy powders used in 3D printing, aerospace and automotive applications.

The process, originally invented at The University of Cambridge and commercialised by Metalysis, is more environmentally friendly and energy efficient than traditional melting technologies.