In its efforts to become a major player in the global surface solutions and advanced materials markets, Swiss company Oerlikon is seeking to add 3D printing to its growing list of areas of expertise, which includes the engineering of industrial components, materials, and related technologies such as thermal spray and thin-film coating. With the acquisition of metal additive manufacturing company citim, Oerlikon has a particular plan in mind: to make itself into an independent service provider for 3D printed components, with all steps in the additive manufacturing process offered from a single source.

Since a 2.8 million AUD investment allowed it to debut on the Australian Stock Exchange back in August, metal 3D printer manufacturer Aurora Labs has been drumming up a lot of interest both domestically and abroad. And from huge organizations, too: around the time it became listed on the ASX, NASA declared interest in the 3D printing company. Despite NASA’s reported interest, however, it seems like another business could have dramatically pushed up the company’s share price today, with Aurora Labs suggesting that a major engineering and project delivery company was close to agreeing to sell and distribute its metal 3D printing technology.