Oerlikon has acquired Citim, a spinout of Madgeburg that offers additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping.

Citim, a Germany-based rapid prototyping spinout of Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg, has been acquired by technology group Oerlikon for an undisclosed sum.

Citim, founded in 1996, develops metals such as an aluminium alloy called Scalmalloy and offers additive manufacturing (AM), small batch production for models and rapid prototyping. The company set up a US-based subsidiary, Citim AM, in 2013.

The spinout’s technology will be integrated into Oerlikon’s offering, combining Citim’s services with the corporate’s expertise in advanced materials, materials processing, surface solutions and a network of service and production centres across 37 countries.

Frank Lehmann, chief executive of Citim, said: “Citim and Oerlikon’s technology and expertise fully complement each other. As part of the Oerlikon Group, Citim will be able to offer its global customer base enhanced AM technologies and competencies and a comprehensive range of services along the entire value chain.”