Leasing of a Laser Powder Bed Fusion 3D Metal Printer

The School of Engineering wanted to lease a Laser Powder Bed Fusion 3D Metal Printer for a fixed term of 3 years with the option to have extended for up to an additional 2 years. The metal printer would have supported world-leading research utilising new materials and printing methods and extended the capability of the 2D and 3D printing currently undertaken within the school. Applications for metal printing can be found in aerospace, defence, automotive, healthcare, and many other industries and will lead to revolutionary new medical, electronic, mechanical, optical, acoustic, heat transfer, and sensing devices being designed and manufactured. This is due to the many advantages, including design flexibility, product customisation, and minimisation of material waste, that printing offers over subtractive manufacturing. The use of Additive Manufacturing (AM) means that geometrics are no longer constrained to the limited base stock that components are traditionally machined from. The University conducted this procurement using the Open Procedure in accordance with the requirements of the Regulations for the purpose of procuring goods described in the Specification. The University proposed to enter into a Contract for up to five years and six months. This was to be the maximum contract period. This comprised of an initial contract period of three years and six months for the provision of the equipment and initial lease term, with an optional extension period of two years additional leasing.