Electron Beam Consortium Launched to Boost PBF-EB Adoption Across Industries

A new global initiative aims to accelerate industrial use of Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-EB) in Additive Manufacturing.

The Barnes Global Advisors (TBGA), based in Pittsburgh, USA, has announced the launch of the Electron Beam Consortium (EBC). This effort brings together major players in electron beam technology to advance PBF-EB adoption across key industries. According to TBGA, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among founding members marks a critical step toward uniting expertise in this growing field.

Founding Members Unite to Advance Electron Beam Technology

The consortium includes ALD Vacuum Technologies, Freemelt, JEOL, Pro-Beam, and Wayland Additive. Each company offers deep knowledge in materials science, beam control, system design, and industrial implementation. Their shared goal is to accelerate the development, standardization, and deployment of PBF-EB solutions in sectors like aerospace, medical, defense, and energy.

TBGA, known for its strength in Additive Manufacturing qualification, certification, and process development, will lead the consortium’s coordination. Christina Kurth, TBGA Director of Business Development, highlighted the significance of this collaboration:

“This MoU signifies our commitment to shaping advanced manufacturing through PBF-EB. Electron beam processes can reduce costs, shorten lead times, and improve sustainability across industries.”

Collaboration and Application-Driven Innovation at the Core

The EBC’s organizing committee will meet regularly to prioritize research, identify high-impact applications, and build pathways for rapid industrialization. The consortium will promote a “customer-first” approach, seeking real-world use cases that unlock performance and efficiency gains through PBF-EB.

Aerospace fellow Eric Barnes expressed support, noting,

“The aeronautics sector values this technology and needs a focused group like TBGA to tackle current supply chain gaps.”

With growing interest in metal Additive Manufacturing, the formation of the EBC signals a major step toward mainstream adoption of electron beam-based production. As noted by SuperMetalPrice, strategic partnerships like these will define the future of industrial AM.

For more information, visit www.barnesglobaladvisors.com.