Spraytime

Scientists at Rutgers School of Engineering, Piscataway, N.J., have devised a more-accurate method for creating coatings of biologically active materials for a variety of medical products. According to researchers, such a technique could pave the way for a new era of transdermal medication, including shot-free vaccinations.

Writing in Nature Communications, researchers described a new approach to electrospray deposition, an industrial spray-coating process. Essentially, Rutgers scientists developed a way to better control the target region within a spray zone as well as the electrical properties of microscopic particles that are being deposited. The greater command of those two properties means that more of the spray is likely to hit its microscopic target.

“While many people think of electrospray deposition as an efficient method, applying it normally does not work for targets that are smaller than the spray, such as the microneedle arrays in transdermal patches,” said Jonathan Singer, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in the Rutgers School of Engineering and an author on the study. “Present methods only achieve about 40% efficiency. However, through advanced engineering techniques we’ve developed, we can achieve efficiencies statistically indistinguishable from 100%.”

Coatings are increasingly critical for a variety of medical applications. They are used on medical devices implanted into the body, such as stents, defibrillators, and pacemakers. And they are beginning to be used more frequently in new products employing biologicals, such as transdermal patches.

“Being able to deposit with 100% efficiency means none of the material would be wasted, allowing devices or vaccines to be coated in this way,” said Sarah Park, a doctoral student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering who is the first author on the paper. “We anticipate that future work will expand the range of compatible materials and the material delivery rate of this high-efficiency approach.”

In addition, researchers allege that unlike other coating techniques used in manufacturing, the new electrospray deposition technique is characterized as far field, meaning it doesn’t need highly accurate positioning of the spray source. As a result, the equipment necessary to employ the technique for mass manufacturing would be more affordable and easier to design.

DeWys Metal Solutions Acquires Shoreline Powder Company and Initiates Expansion Plans

DeWys Metal Solutions, a custom metal fabricator located in Marne, Mich., is increasing its local presence with an acquisition and the expansion of two facilities.

Shoreline Powder Coating, Grand Haven, Mich., was added to DeWys’s ReFab Metal Fab business to provide customers with a broader range of finish options and faster turnaround times.

“Having in-house powder coating capabilities will significantly reduce lead times, make us more competitive with cost, and allow us to quickly respond to customer needs,” explained ReFab President Andrew DeWys. “It also expands our portfolio of painted and assembled products for current and future customers.”

Additionally, the company will add to its existing location in Marne and has acquired a new facility for its DeWys Stainless Solutions division in Walker, Mich. The additions will create more job opportunities, further strengthening the local economy.

Airbus Selects Titomic as Supplier of Cold Spray Equipment for Aerospace Applications

The Airbus Group, Blagnac, France, a commercial aircraft manufacturer, has chosen Titomic Ltd., Mount Waverly, Australia, an additive manufacturing company, as its supplier for cold spray additive manufacturing, repairs, and maintenance equipment.

As part of the agreement, Airbus has issued a purchase order for two kinetic fusion systems. One of the systems, a D623 medium-pressure cold spray system, will be installed onsite at Airbus, enabling coatings and repairs capabilities. The second larger system will be installed at Titomic’s European facility. The Titomic-based system will facilitate the development of aerospace applications tailored to Airbus’s specific needs. The two companies will work together to develop and refine cold spray processes and equipment to meet the stringent requirements of the aerospace industry.

One outcome of this work is the inclusion of Titomic’s equipment and technology within Airbus maintenance protocols. As a result, all Airbus maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities planning to utilize cold spray applications will be required to use Titomic equipment and technology, ensuring consistency and adherence to Airbus standards across its MRO operations.

Herbert Koeck, managing director of Titomic, commented, “This is a significant development for us at Titomic, and we are excited to embark on this strategic partnership with Airbus, further expanding our presence in the aerospace sector . . . With demanding regulations and requirements, the aerospace market is difficult to enter. We are grateful to Airbus, our investors, and suppliers for supporting us in reaching this important milestone.”

ASG AMF Engineering Buys New Factory

ASG AMF Engineering, Bromborough, Wirral, England, a precision engineering company that manufactures components and assemblies for research facilities and the semiconductor industry, has invested in an additional factory. It will continue to retain the existing premises for machining.

The new factory has enabled the company to increase the size of its clean assembly facility while providing more room for its chemical cleaning and welding capabilities. The facility has also allowed the company to invest about £400,000 ($497,000) in automated thermal spraying equipment and the expansion of its ultrahigh vacuum cleaning facility. A £500,000 ($621,000) investment in an additional large 5-axis machining center with a pallet loader will enable fully automated lights-out machining. These investments will increase production capacity.

The new factory unit will also facilitate the creation of new jobs, contributing to the local economy and offering employment opportunities within the Wirral community.

SPEE3D’s 3D Printers to Aid Japan’s Military Operations

The Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) will receive two 3D printers from SPEE3D, Melbourne, Australia.

WarpSPEE3D is a large-format metal 3D printer able to produce large metal parts in minutes or hours. The XSPEE3D offers a metal additive manufacturing capability with SPEE3D’s patented cold spray 3D printing technology and auxiliary equipment integrated within one shipping container unit.

With this technology, the JGSDF will be able to manufacture critical replacement parts in minutes or hours, on demand, in a wide range of materials, including but not limited to aluminium 6061, aluminium bronze, copper, and stainless steel.

The company will provide the JGSDF with comprehensive training, support, and maintenance for both printers, including field exercise programs with the XSPEE3D.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to expand our presence into Japan and the APAC [Asia-Pacific] region,” said SPEE3D CEO Byron Kennedy. “It is indeed an honor to collaborate with the Japanese military. Our aim is to train and prepare their forces to use the XSPEE3D printer in the field to address their most-urgent supply chain issues through quickly manufactured on-demand parts.”