Fast Fusion has aligned with Utilized Automation to productionise the brand new Medusa hybrid manufacturing platform.
The association has been described as an ‘outsourcing deal’ that may see Utilized Automation create a devoted meeting line and testing space at its facility in Plymouth to assist make sure the machine is prepared for distribution subsequent yr.
It represents an growth of a two-year enterprise partnership, with the pair now becoming a member of forces to show the prototype system launched earlier this yr right into a machine prepared to be used on the store flooring. With curiosity already coming from the automotive, aerospace, development, medical and renewables sectors, Utilized Automation and Fast Fusion will give attention to design for manufacture and provide chain administration to make sure they’ll seize a projected £5m value of income from first yr gross sales. The companions say their scale up and distribution targets might create as much as ten jobs throughout the 2 firms.
Medusa was launched to market earlier this yr, with Fast Fusion combining filament and pellet extrusion 3D printing capabilities with a CNC machining device. The corporate believes the system is able to producing components as much as thrice sooner than typical machines, whereas additionally being twice as correct and as much as 30% cheaper relating to upkeep.
“We’re incredible at innovating and growing new know-how that’s altering the best way firms undertake additive manufacturing,” mentioned Martin Jewell, Chief Technical Officer of Fast Fusion. “Nonetheless, we aren’t set-up to fabricate the options we create in low to medium volumes, which is the place our relationship with Utilized Automation actually comes into its personal. Our preliminary robotic techniques – Apollo and Zeus – have been developed in partnership so it made excellent sense to present Paul and his group the chance to construct Medusa.
“The intention is to take a few of the early manufacturing prices out of the equation by streamlining design for manufacture after which growing an meeting line that may take simply six weeks – from begin to end – to construct every mannequin. This provides us a terrific alternative to be first to market and stay on store flooring by March 2026.”
Paul Rowe, Director of Utilized Automation, added: “Our job is all about taking incredible know-how and figuring out how we will serialise it at a value and velocity that works for Fast Fusion and, importantly, {the marketplace}. The ability in Plymouth is packed full of apparatus and over 200 management system consultants, toolmakers and manufacturing professionals that every one work collectively to assist deliver the outsourcing course of to life for purchasers.
“For Martin and his group, we’ll tackle a lot of the construct, closing meeting and testing. The intention is to have two pre-production machines prepared within the subsequent few months to assist fine-tune the method, adopted by the primary industrial techniques to be prepared within the first quarter of 2026. Compliance is de facto vital for Medusa and, by tapping into our service, it instantly offers the machine approvals with CE marking and UL508a, the latter is so vital for the North American market.”
Jake Hand, Managing Director of Fast Fusion, supplied: “That is the primary time an industrial printer of this velocity and dimension has been made within the UK, so we’re delighted to maintain serial manufacturing on these shores and even higher within the South West. Utilized Automation is a world class manufacturing accomplice and can play a pivotal function in serving to us hit £5m gross sales from Medusa within the first yr. That is simply the beginning, as we’ve additionally simply agreed reseller agreements in new components of the globe – this might speed up revenues in a short time.”
