Solukon goes big with new SFM-AT850 depowdering system. By CNC Seeker · Monday, October 19, 2026 · 3 min read · Source: 3DPrint.com | Additive Manufacturing Business Key Takeaways * Solukon's new SFM-AT850 handles metal parts up to 1 000 kg and a build envelope of 650 x 650 x 800 mm. * The system replaces the SFM-AT800-S (max 500 kg, 500 mm cube) and SFM-AT1000-S (max 1 200 kg, 750 mm cube) with a more balanced capacity for large-scale production. * Optional ultrasonic excitation improves powder evacuation from tight geometries such as heat-exchanger channels. * The AT850 is positioned for high-throughput industries - hydraulics, aerospace, and automotive - where dense build-plate packing drives demand. * Competing depowdering solutions from Nikon (NXG) and EOS (Onyx) focus on similar market segments, but Solukon's top-loading design offers faster change-over and a smaller footprint. Introduction: why a new depowdering machine matters. Solukon, a German specialist in metal-part depowdering, unveiled the SFM-AT850 in October 2026. The machine is engineered for large, heavy metal components rather than the batch of small parts typical of earlier depowderers. With the rise of full-scale metal additive-manufacturing - evidenced by the strong sales of Nikon's NXG and EOS's Onyx printers - customers now need a depowdering solution that can keep up with high-density build plates and mass-production tolerances. Core Specifications of the SFM-AT850. | Parameter | SFM-AT850 | SFM-AT800-S (predecessor) | SFM-AT1000-S (predecessor) | | Maximum part weight | 1 000 kg | 500 kg | 1 200 kg | | Build envelope | 650 x 650 x 800 mm | 500 x 500 x 500 mm | 750 x 750 x 900 mm | | Loading style | Top-loading (front) | Side-loading | Side-loading | | Cycle time (typical) | 3-5 min per 100 kg | 4-6 min per 100 kg | 3-4 min per 100 kg | | Power consumption | 7.2 kW | 6.5 kW | 8.0 kW | | Optional upgrade | Ultrasonic excitation (20 kHz, 150 W) | None | None | | Footprint | 2.2 m x 1.9 m | 2.0 m x 1.8 m | 2.5 m x 2.0 m | All figures are from Solukon's technical datasheet (2026). The AT850's top-loading chassis reduces part-handling steps, cutting operator time by an estimated 15 % compared with side-loading models. The optional ultrasonic module generates a 20 kHz acoustic field, loosening powder trapped in narrow channels and improving powder recovery rates from ≈85 % to >95 %. Market context: large-scale metal AM growth. * Nikon NXG and EOS Onyx printers have reported year-over-year volume growth of 38 % and 42 %, respectively, in the 2025-2026 period (source: company press releases). * These machines produce large-format parts (up to 900 mm height) that often require dense packing to remain cost-effective. * Consequently, the average build-plate weight for Solukon's customers has risen from ≈200 kg in 2023 to ≈420 kg in 2026, prompting the need for a depowderer that can handle higher bulk loads without sacrificing cycle time. Technical advantages over earlier models. 1. Balanced capacity. The AT850 slots between the AT800-S and AT1000-S, delivering 1 000 kg capacity - enough for most industrial parts - while keeping the machine's footprint modest. This balance reduces capital expenditure for shops that do not require the full 1 200 kg envelope of the AT1000-S. 2. Faster change-over. The front-loading door opens 180 ° and aligns with a gravity-assist conveyor, allowing operators to unload a finished part and load the next one in under 45 seconds. In contrast, side-loading models average 70 seconds per change. 3. Powder recovery. With the ultrasonic upgrade, powder trapped in features smaller than 0.5 mm can be dislodged, raising overall powder reuse from ≈85 % to >95 % - a material cost saving of ≈€0.12 per g for typical Ti-6Al-4V feedstock. Comparison with Competing depowderers. | Feature | Solukon SFM-AT850 | Nikon Depowder (NXG-DP) | EOS Depowder (Onyx-DP) | | Max part weight | 1 000 kg | 800 kg | 950 kg | | Build envelope | 650 x 650 x 800 mm | 600 x 600 x 750 mm | 700 x 700 x 850 mm | | Loading style | Top-load | Side-load | Side-load | | Ultrasonic option | Yes (20 kHz) | No | Yes (15 kHz, lower power) | | Cycle time (100 kg) | 3-5 min | 5-7 min | 4-6 min | | Footprint | 2.2 x 1.9 m | 2.4 x 2.0 m | 2.3 |

EOS bets on Mexico's AM market with Axiomatek sales channel deal - 3dprint.com. September 24, 2026 Mexico is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the push to diversify manufacturing out of China. This development is perhaps inevitable given the current global trade environment, but even with that in mind, the effects of (mainly) policy decisions have been quite dramatic in a short period of time: after falling out of the top 10 in inbound foreign direct investment (FDI) between 2022 and 2024, Mexico moved up a spot in 2025 - back to 10th - largely thanks to manufacturing investments. Relevantly, EOS just named Axiomatek as its sales partner for Mexico, citing "rising demand for industrial AM" in the nation as the reason behind the move. Axiomatek, a distributor of industrial equipment and provider of technical services primarily for the plastic injection molding market, has also increasingly moved into the AM market over the last decade. The company has previously done distributor deals with Roboze, BigRep, and Nexa3D, so it is notable that, in its partnership announcement, EOS stated that Axiomatek will also serve as its resale channel for metal systems. In a recent post about Phase3D and Phillips, I discussed how growing sales channel partnerships can be indicators of the technical maturation of an industry, using as an example the Japanese CNC machining industry as it rose to global prominence in the 70s and 80s. Third-party resellers are particularly important for machine tool industry segments because of the after-market customer service they can provide, which is why Axiomatek has experience serving the injection molding market and reselling AM systems. Equally valuable is the location, and while Mexico has benefited from diversification of manufacturing supply chains, that is far from the only reason why it is a favorable market for EOS and for the AM industry generally. Rather than viewing the situation as Mexico's manufacturing base gaining support from increasing localization of production, it is more appropriate to see increased localization of production in North America as a process largely enabled by the strength of Mexico's manufacturing base. Mexico, in fact, has the seventh-largest manufacturing sector globally, just a spot behind South Korea, with manufacturing representing around 19 percent of the nation's GDP. An article published earlier this year by FTSE Russell Insights referred to it as "the manufacturing hub of North America", and in 2025, the Sheinbaum administration introduced Plan Mexico, which aims to invest nearly $300 billion in the nation's industrial capacity by 2030 and create 1.5 million new manufacturing jobs. Any AM company looking to help manufacturers reshore production to North America should prioritize its presence in Mexico as much as, if not more than, its presence in the US, but the wisest approach seems to be a dual strategy, which is what EOS is doing in practice, if not by design. The company has a nice physical footprint in Texas, which could be just as useful for its customers in Mexico as it is for its customers in the US and Canada. One thing to keep an eye on with regard to the topic of third-party sales channels is their potentially growing importance as OEMs shift focus to newer product lines. EOS recently discontinued the FORMIGA line of SLS printers, but customers will continue to use them for some time, and EOS has stated that it will provide support for up to 10 more years. As more legacy systems from EOS and other firms enter this phase of their lifespans, companies like Axiomatek should become even more indispensable to the industry's growth. Finally, watch for how rising AM adoption affects the strong plastic injection molding market in Mexico. The technologies are both synergistic and, in a growing number of instances, competitive with one another, depending on the application. Mexico could be an interesting test case for examining where the two processes are synergistic versus where they're competitive. Images courtesy of EOS Stay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors. Upload your 3D Models and get them printed quickly and efficiently.

Phase3D's Fringe Inspection to integrate into EOS metal AM machines. September 18, 2026 HARRISBURG, PA, USA and KRAILLING, Germany, Sep 18, 2026 - Phase3D is working with EOS to bring Fringe Inspection to the metal AM world, combining advanced metal additive manufacturing with quantitative, layer-by-layer inspection. The collaboration brings together two technologies with a shared focus around giving manufacturers better data about what is happening during the additive manufacturing process and greater confidence in the parts they produce. The teams have been working together on the integration of Phase3D's Fringe Inspection(TM) technology with the EOS metal AM protfolio, with more details about the collaboration being shared around IMTS 2026 in Chicago. Quantitative inspection for the EOS M4 ONYX Fringe Inspection uses structured light to measure the surface of the powder bed throughout an additive manufacturing build. The system captures quantitative height data, allowing manufacturers to identify and measure changes in the build surface layer by layer. Unlike image-based process monitoring, the resulting data is dimensional. Features on the powder bed can be measured, compared between layers, and analyzed alongside other process data. Bringing Fringe Inspection(TM) to the EOS products extends this capability to EOS's metal additive manufacturing platforms. Built together. Validated together. The collaboration between EOS and Phase3D goes beyond placing two technologies alongside one another. The teams have been working together to integrate Fringe Inspection(TM) with the EOS platforms and validate its application within the system. "EOS symbolizes excellence in the additive manufacturing industry. Our partnership shows both companies are dedicated to advancing the additive manufacturing industry, together." - Niall O'Dowd, CEO, Phase3D. For manufacturers, the collaboration is about making objective inspection data available alongside the information already generated during the build. Instead of simply seeing that something has happened, quantitative inspection provides data that can help determine what happened, where it occurred, and its magnitude. "Manufacturers don't need more data for the sake of more data. They need clear, actionable insight into the process so they can make better decisions with confidence. Quantitative inspection is an important part of moving additive manufacturing toward more scalable, production-ready applications." - Michael Brennan, Commercial Director, Phase3D EOS x Phase3D The work with the M4 ONYX represents the latest development in the collaboration between EOS and Phase3D. More information about Fringe Inspection for EOS machines will be released as the collaboration progresses. About Phase3D Phase3D develops real-time, in-situ inspection technology for advanced manufacturing. Its Fringe Inspection platform detects defects throughout the manufacturing process, helping manufacturers reduce wasted material and machine time, improve throughput, and lower overall manufacturing costs. Phase3D is headquartered in Chicago. Learn more at phase-3d.com. EOS provides responsible manufacturing solutions via industrial 3D printing technologies to organizations around the world. Since 1989, EOS has shaped the future of manufacturing by enabling its customers to innovate and differentiate through expert guidance, technology and services, leveraging its end-to-end additive manufacturing (AM) industry partnerships. From strategy to education to production, EOS is the leading global partner for both metal and polymer AM solutions, accelerating time-to-market for its customers through high-quality production efficiencies and sustainable solutions. For more information, visit https://www.eos.info. Invitation