Zecotek Announces Breakthrough Manufacturing Technology for Metal Powders used with 3D Printers

SINGAPORE, Feb. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - Zecotek Photonics Inc. (TSX-V: ZMS; Frankfurt: W1I; OTCPK: ZMSPF), a developer of leading-edge photonics technologies for industrial, healthcare and scientific markets, today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Zecotek Display Systems Pte. Ltd. and its strategic partners the Institute of Chemical Physics and LT-Pyrkal have successfully developed a unique manufacturing technology for metal powders to be used with 3D printers. The new manufacturing approach uses metal hydrides synthesis and has significant advantages over traditional techniques: high productivity, superior quality of synthesized hydride, significantly lower energy consumption, ecological purity and safety of the process among other key functional parameters. 

"Our new and unique manufacturing technology for metal powders is a significant achievment in the advancement of 3D printing," said Dr. A.F. Zerrouk, Chairman, President, and CEO of Zecotek Photonics Inc.  "The quest for cheap and available powders of refractory metals has been long and hard and the 3D industry will value our solution.  Laser sintering based 3D printing is undoubtedly the technology of the future.  We expect the advantages of our breakthrough technology to greatly contribute to the rapid development of additive technologies for 3D rapid manufacturing.  The development of a new generation of hydrogen-containing materials, including those based on refractory metals, nano-modified alloys and certain inter-metallides groups, is key for additive 3D printing technologies.  Zecotek and its strategic partners are leading the way in this very vast and rapidly changing market. "

Laser sintering based 3D printing is an additive manufacturing technique that uses a laser as the energy source to sinter metal powder, binding the material together to create a solid structure.  Traditional metal powder manufacturing requires laborious operations to prepare hydrides, such as initial activation of metal and the deep cleaning of hydrogen, plus use of expensive fine metal powder under hydrogenation.  The metal powder developed by Zecotek and partners will be compatible with Zecotek`s 3D printer and other laser sintering based 3D printers.

Zecotek has been working with the Institute of Chemical Physics of the National Academy of Sciences to extend the list of high-performance powder metal alloys for use in its compact, high-speed 3D printer. The Institute along with Zecotek and LT-Pyrkal are collaborating to fine tune the advanced technology necessary for the fabrication of metal powders from metal hydride compounds.  The long term objective of the group is to maintain a leadership position in 3D metal printing as well as the production of high-performance powder materials for the 3D additive manufacture of metal and alloys based components for very wide applications and industries at large. Zecotek is in negotiations with market leaders, with the view of selecting the most optimum commercialization route its new 3D printer and powder technologies

In July 2014 Zecotek contracted LT-PYRKAL to assemble and test its first compact, high-speed 3D printer which will use high-performance metal alloys and offer technical and commercial advantages over other 3D printing technology. A number of key technical challenges have been solved and LT-Pyrkal is proceeding with the assembly of the new 3D printer, which will be used for both prototyping and distributed manufacturing with specific applications in electronics, aerospace, automotive, mechanical and healthcare industries.  A working prototype of the high-speed 3D printer is schedule for Q3 calendar 2015.

About the Institute of Chemical Physics
The Institute of Chemical Physics is based in Yerevan, Armenia and is part of Russia`s International Science and Technology Centre, an intergovernmental organization connecting scientists from Russia, Georgia and other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) with their peers and research organizations in the EU, Japan, Republic of Korea, Norway and the United States.  The organization specializes in the development of the theory of chemical conversion, kinetics and a mechanism of complex chemical reactions proceeding with a participation of free radicals and atoms, including chain reaction as well as combustion and explosion in the gas and condensed phases.  Its main fields of activity include:  complex and elementary chemical reactions with a participation of free radicals; chemistry of free radicals; chain reactions; combustion and explosion in the gas and condensed phases; synthesis of inorganic materials under condition of combustion; development of technologies of refractory material production by means of SHS (self-propagating high temperature synthesis) method; catalytic processes; heterophase chemical processes.

About LT-Pyrkal
LT-PYRKAL is a Greek-Armenian research, development and production company, specializing in crystal growth, laser accessories and components, lasers and systems. LT-PYRKAL was established in 1999 and todays employs over 250 highly qualified specialists and occupies over 30.000 square meters of industrial facilities for for synthetic crystal growth, opto-mechanics and laser electronics manufacturing, and laser and EO Systems development.  For more information please visit: http://www.lt-pyrkal.com/en/.

About Zecotek
Zecotek Photonics Inc (TSX-V: ZMS; Frankfurt: W1I) is a photonics technology company developing high-performance scintillation crystals, photo detectors, positron emission tomography scanning technologies, 3D auto-stereoscopic displays, and lasers for applications in medical, high-tech and industrial sectors.  Founded in 2004, Zecotek operates three divisions: Imaging Systems, Laser Systems and 3D Display Systems with labs located in Canada, Korea, Russia, Singapore and U.S.A. The management team is focused on building shareholder value by commercializing over 50 patented and patent pending novel photonic technologies directly and through strategic alliances and joint ventures with leading industry partners such as the European Organization for Nuclear Research (Switzerland), Beijing Opto-Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. (China), NuCare Medical Systems (South Korea), and National NanoFab Center (South Korea).  For more information visit www.zecotek.com, follow @zecotek on Twitter and "like" us in Facebook at www.facebook.com/zecotek.

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SOURCE Zecotek Photonics Inc.