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Arcam AB

Brand of Colibrium Additive

HardwareMölndal, SwedenFounded 1997· One of 1733 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

Arcam AB offers cost-efficient additive manufacturing solutions for producing complex metal components using Electron Beam Melting (EBM) technology.

CEO / Founder
Alexander Lee
Team Size
201-500
Stage
Acquired
Total Funding
$724M
Latest Round
Acquired
Key Investors
European Union

Technology & Products

Key Products

Electron Beam Melting (EBM) systems (e.g., Q20), powder metals, and implant contract manufacturing.

Technological Advantage

Advanced EBM solutions that deliver high-quality, cost-effective metal component production.

Patent position

Across all years, Arcam filed 128 patent families, below Stratasys (494), 3D Systems (300), and EOS (185), but above Velo3D (75). AMPulse analysis

Filing momentum
6 families filed 2022–2024, 18 in 2019–2021
Focus, 2019–2021 → 2022–2024
Materials 100% → 100%Equipment 100% → 100%
Filed in
EP 27%US 25%WO 25%CN 23%JP 1%
Named competitors, AM patent families
Stratasys 494Velo3D 753D Systems 300EOS 185

128 AM patent families in total. Recent years are still being published, so read a filing change against the same-office figure.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Provides cost-efficient production of complex metal components with enhanced design freedom through pioneering EBM technology.

How They Differentiate

Proprietary EBM technology offering distinct advantages in efficiency and part quality compared to competitors, particularly for aerospace and medical applications.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Orthopedic and aerospace industries

Industry Verticals

Aerospace, Medical

Competitors

Stratasys, Velo3D, 3D Systems Corporation, EOS, EnvisionTEC.

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Reported $88.22M in revenue with significant sales growth pre-acquisition

Major Milestones

Development of EBM technology, Acquired by GE in 2017

Notable Customers

NASA, Airbus, Boeing, Lima, Adler Ortho, FIT (per Marketscreener company profile)

https://www.arcam.com

AM patents

AM-relevant patents linked to this company.

Patents
140
Granted
44
Families
128

Leading domains: process (140), material (132), equipment (130)

Filings by year: 2023: 5 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 27

  1. Energy beam deflection speed verification09310188 · US
  2. APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL ARTICLE2020108801 · WO
  3. Method for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional article(s)113172238 · CN
  4. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING2018077740 · WO
  5. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING3532220 · EP

Funding rounds

  • Grant$1.81M2015-08Lead: European Union · Source: Tracxn
  • Institutional PlacementUndisclosed2013-06Source: Engineering.com
  • RoundUndisclosed2013-05Source: Tracxn

Why this company matters

AMPulse analysis, not a company disclosure

Arcam AB established Electron Beam Melting (EBM) as a production-grade metal additive manufacturing process, differentiating from laser-based powder bed fusion by using an electron beam to melt metal powder in a vacuum. This approach reduces residual stresses and enables faster build rates for certain geometries, positioning Arcam as a specialist in high-value, mission-critical parts rather than a generalist AM hardware vendor.

The company's core product line includes EBM systems such as the Q20, along with proprietary metal powders and contract manufacturing services for orthopedic implants. EBM operates at elevated temperatures, which minimizes post-process heat treatment and allows production of materials like Ti-6Al-4V and Inconel 718 with mechanical properties suited for load-bearing medical and aerospace applications.

Arcam's customer base spans orthopedic implant manufacturers such as Lima and Adler Ortho, and aerospace primes including NASA, Airbus, and Boeing. The medical segment relies on EBM for porous lattice structures that promote bone ingrowth, while aerospace uses the process for lightweight brackets and turbine components. The company was acquired by GE in 2017 and integrated into GE Additive, though its Swedish R&D operations continue to develop EBM technology.

The primary competitive risk to Arcam's EBM platform comes from laser-based LPBF systems offered by EOS, 3D Systems, and Velo3D, which have broader material ecosystems and larger installed bases. EBM's advantage in productivity for certain titanium parts is offset by its higher system cost and more limited material range. Arcam's long-term moat depends on continued adoption of EBM in orthopedic mass production and aerospace qualification programs.