SODICK Opens New Metal AM Factory in Italy, Targeting 3x Productivity

Latest Update May 19, 2026

Sodick plans to establish a new metal additive manufacturing (AM) factory in Italy by 2026 as part of its strategy to expand production capacity and strengthen manufacturing automation.

The company aims to increase the productivity of its metal AM machines by more than three times through the consolidation of existing facilities and the implementation of automated production systems.

The move comes as applications for metal AM technologies continue to expand beyond complex component manufacturing and mold repair into surface treatment technologies and molds for Giga-cast automotive production.

SODICK Consolidates Italian Operations to Improve Manufacturing Efficiency

ALT Form, SODICK’s Italian subsidiary, will acquire a new factory located in an industrial park in Turin.

The company currently operates multiple facilities within the same industrial park and plans to consolidate them into the new site to improve operational efficiency. The building area is expected to expand by approximately three times.

While details regarding the acquisition and renovation costs have not been disclosed, the first-phase investment is estimated at around JPY 1 billion.

Renovation work is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, with full-scale operations expected to begin in 2027.

The new facility will also expand its application center for material selection, process optimization, and production verification. In addition, dedicated areas will be established to develop integrated automation systems combining metal AM machines with peripheral equipment.

Brake Surface Treatment Technology Targets Euro 7 Demand

ALT Form is developing a robot-assisted surface treatment system for automotive brake discs using a powder nozzle-type metal AM machine that simultaneously emits laser beams and metal powder.

The process coats disc rotor surfaces with a highly wear-resistant metal layer, reducing particulate matter (PM) emissions caused by brake friction by up to 80%.

Europe is scheduled to introduce Euro 7 regulations for brake-related PM emissions in November 2026, and ALT Form’s system — among the first designed to comply with the standard — has already been selected by European automakers.

Further market expansion is expected as demand for low-emission automotive technologies increases.

SODICK Expands into Giga-cast Mold Applications

Meanwhile, Sodick Co., Ltd. has begun supplying powder bed-type metal AM machines to several Japanese automakers for the production of Giga-cast molds used in large integrated aluminum vehicle structures.

SODICK acquired ALT Form in 2025. While ALT Form mainly operates in Europe and the United States with strengths in powder bed metal AM technologies, SODICK has a stronger presence in Asia.

Both companies aim to expand sales globally by leveraging each other’s technologies and customer networks.

Source: Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun