Applications

There is a wide variety of applications for which Vibenite® components produced by additive manufacturing are suitable. It provides geometric freedom, increased performance, and the ability to produce complex shapes with lighter alloys. Longer application life and a lighter finished product combined with reduced material waste and post-processing steps result in less energy consumption and environmental impact. Some examples of applications where Vibenite® will improve performance are listed below, but let your imagination guide you!

Wear elements

Components in the power industry, aerospace components and machinery components are often exposed to harsh wear environments and are limited by hardness or temperature stability (high temperature resistance) optimization. Vibenite® offers unmatched hot hardness performance and is corrosion resistant. Complex part geometries and individual spare parts can be produced quickly to further increase productivity.

Vibenite® pipe erosion protection

recycling industry

More and more products made from different materials are recycled every day. Crushing and shredding require adequate wear resistance and hardness in machinery for an efficient process. Vibenite®'s excellent toughness and fatigue properties can cope with the highly abrasive conditions in recycling processes.

food processing industry

The food industry processes a wide variety of products. Shapes and flavors change frequently, and the industry needs to adapt quickly to customer needs. Additive manufacturing enables rapid production of new nozzle designs, and with Vibenite® you can have spare parts with superior fatigue performance. Food processing is a continuous process and requires great hygiene and energy efficiency control. Long-lasting wear-resistant materials are needed to maintain a high productivity as well as high-quality finished products.

Vibenite® extruder for snacks

Vibenite® knife for snacks

metal casting molds

Metal casting molds made from Vibenite® are productive when high precision and performance are required in a long-term perspective. Extreme wear resistance and hardness provide an effective casting process that can increase productivity. In addition, material cleanliness and non-porous structure ensure that unwanted contamination and foreign matter do not affect the cast material.

Vibenite® metal casting mold

engine components

Engines play an important role in today's industries. Production and transportation processes are completely dependent on engine systems, and the demand for lightweight, environmentally friendly products is high. VBN's unique Vibenite® materials offer extreme wear resistant properties suitable for prolonged loads in a heated environment, which is distinctive for engines. Excellent fatigue properties will increase component life and performance, and the freedom of geometry combined with ultra-high toughness prevents the use of unnecessary materials, enabling a lighter engine with less energy consumption and emissions.

Vibenite® engine piston

transportation industry

Commuting to work is a necessity in today's society. Higher qualifications are required for material performance as faster connections are demanded. To achieve emissions targets, fully functional and efficient connections are needed to enable people to choose environmentally friendly means of transport. VBN provides the necessary improvements to achieve these goals by providing components with longer life, higher wear resistance and lighter weight.

Knives

Knives with excellent cutting properties are of great interest, both for the food industry and for specialty areas. The retained hardness plays an important role in obtaining the optimum cutting edge without the need for sharpening. Vibenite® revolutionizes the knife industry with its extreme hardness and wear resistance, combined with the unlimited design freedom that comes from additive manufacturing.

Vibenite® ice skating blade

Vibenite® hobby knife

Vibenite® kitchen knife

Mining and rock drilling

Effective mining and rock drilling is essential for the smooth running of projects. The process requires superior wear resistance and hardness. For example, opening a new tunnel for public transport systems can hinder normal traffic and disturb the environment. By using the highly wear-resistant components of VBN, a faster and more efficient process is possible.

Vibenite® drill bits

racing vehicles

Race cars need maximum performance with the least possible weight. Manufactured with additive manufacturing, Vibenite® optimizes geometry and performance for specific components. This presents a new and unique opportunity for vehicle design and a solution to get to the finish line first.

metalworking

Metal cutting tools such as gear hobs, broaches and milling cutters require very high hardness and wear resistance to machine a metal efficiently. Machining can be long and reach high temperatures, which requires high tool performance. Metal cutters made from Vibenite® can be printed to suit specific customer needs, with cooling channels impossible with other processing technologies today. They can operate at higher speeds increasing production capacity, are highly resistant to wear and have a longer service life than conventional tool steels.

Vibenite® gear hob

plastic injection molds

During the plastic injection process, large quantities of parts are produced quickly. When using an additive manufacturing mold, almost no geometric boundaries need to be taken into account. In addition, using corrosion-resistant Vibenite® material, precision and longer life are achieved thanks to extreme wear-resistant properties.

Unsupported 3D printed Vibenite® test piece

energy industry

Because the process environment is demanding and susceptible to any failure, the energy industry needs to maintain a high standard of safety. Reliable materials and quick access to spare parts are required to maintain safety and productivity. Both of these prerequisites can be fulfilled with Vibenite®.

Vibenite® channel block

Compressor and pumps

Compressors and pumps require high quality in many uses to prevent catastrophic failures. These applications often run nonstop or frequently in corrosive environments where high fatigue performance and corrosion resistance are needed. Pump impellers and valves have complex geometries that are normally very difficult to machine. Manufactured by additive manufacturing, Vibenite® can reduce component weight and also improve part performance by using an optimized geometry.