BEAMIT and composite specialist Bercella announce strategic alliance

Italian manufacturing service provider BEAMIT has announced a collaboration with Bercella, an Italy-based company specializing in composite materials. The companies will combine their experience working with OEMs in the aviation, space and defense industries, as well as their respective areas of expertise (additive manufacturing and composites) to explore potential synergies between the two technologies.

The partnership will consist of both a commercial and technological collaboration between BEAMIT and Bercella and will place a particular focus on joining methods of additive manufacturing and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) parts. The companies will also leverage their aligned areas of experience: offering vertically integrated solutions to OEMs and Tier 1s.

According to the partners, their joint activities will primarily revolve around R&D projects in the space, aviation and defense areas. Both companies will equally contribute to these projects and come up with a shared business development strategy.

“In Bercella we found a high-professional partner capable to provide leading expertise in composites design and manufacturing for aerospace applications,” said Michele Antolotti, BEAMIT General Manager. “Despite the world economic consequences of the actual pandemic situation, joining forces is a strategic way to react and to support high-end companies into their ramp-up of new product development.”

Massimo Bercella, CEO of Bercella, added: “We are eager to team-up with BEAMIT and unlock new potentials for structural optimization. As Italian companies in a territory of excellences, we embrace every challenge determined to succeed. We always find a way, no matter the hassles. And in such a complex time, our common deep roots in the heart of Emilia Romagna will push us to step up driven by a sense of curiosity towards innovation.”

Overall, the collaboration seeks to offer OEMs and Tier 1s access to new solutions that combine additive manufacturing and CFRP materials. The vertical integration strategies, which range from materials development and component qualification to serial manufacturing, have the potential to unlock lead-time and cost benefits.

Last month, BEAMIT announced a separate collaboration with advanced coating solutions company Praxair Surface Technologies with the aim of offering a broader range of integrated services to customers in the aeronautics sector.