WintPrint-3D (Wintwire)
Manufactures WintPrint-3D specialty metal wires for Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM), enabling large-scale metal 3D printing of aerospace, defense, and industrial components at deposition rates up to 15 kg/hour.
- CEO / Founder
- Ben Turner
- Team Size
- 11-50
- Stage
- Active
- Total Funding
- $60K
- Latest Round
- Bootstrapped
- Key Investors
- Innovate UK
Technology & Products
Key Products
WintPrint-3D Additive Manufacturing Wires (WAAM); Specialty round wires (0.30mm–12.00mm diameter); Profile/shaped wires; Custom metal formulations (mild steel, stainless steel, alloy steels, nickel alloys, non-ferrous metals)
Technological Advantage
Proprietary wire composition optimization for WAAM (WintPrint-3D brand); mechanical property superiority vs. standard welding wire documented via full chemical/mechanical test results on every production batch; UK-based supply chain for aerospace-critical materials.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
UK-leading WAAM wire supplier with 160+ years metallurgical expertise; WintPrint-3D wires outperform traditional welding wire with superior mechanical properties for critical aerospace/defense applications; enables onshore manufacturing and rapid spare parts production vs. traditional casting.
How They Differentiate
Wintwire differentiates on material science depth (160+ year wire metallurgy heritage) vs. WAAM3D's systems focus; advantage over laser-based systems (Meltio) via higher deposition rates (~15 kg/hr WAAM) for large structural parts; localized UK production for aerospace supply chain security.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Aerospace, defense, energy, and heavy industry OEMs requiring large-scale metal additive manufacturing
Industry Verticals
Aerospace; Defense; Energy; Mining; Oil & Gas; Construction; Engineering
Competitors
WAAM3D Ltd (Cranfield spin-off; robotic WAAM systems + wire feedstock); Meltio (Wire-Laser Metal Deposition; lower heat input, finer microstructure); AML3D (ASX:AL3; WAM patented process, DED-arc)
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
25 employees (as of 2024, per PitchBook); £1.2M Innovate UK grant award (2020, HPWAAM consortium); team expanded with acquisition of Firebird Metals Ltd (Sheffield nickel/stainless steel wire specialist, 20+ year trading history).
Major Milestones
2001: Legal incorporation as private limited company (WINTWIRE LIMITED); Pre-2001: Acquired heritage wire production site at Oxspring (160+ years of continuous operation); 2020: HPWAAM project launch (Innovate UK £1.2M grant for industrial WAAM advancement); 2023: Firebird Metals Ltd acquisition (nickel alloy and stainless steel precision wire specialist)