Sodick finalizes the acquisition of Prima Additive

Sodick Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese manufacturer of EDM (electric discharge machining) systems and high-precision machine tools, has completed the acquisition of Prima Additive, completing the purchase of a majority stake in the company.

This acquisition finalizes Prima Additive’s separation from the Prima Industrie Group and establishes Sodick as the majority shareholder, strengthening synergies in advanced manufacturing technologies. From today, it will operate under its new brand name, “Prima Additive by Sodick”.

The acquisition marks a major milestone in the company’s development, enabling Prima Additive to accelerate its international expansion by leveraging product synergies and complementary technological and geographical expertise.

Prima Additive began its R&D activities within Prima Industrie in 2015 as part of the European Borealis project, and was officially launched as a brand in 2018, quickly becoming a benchmark in the field of metal additive manufacturing. The company provides turnkey solutions in Laser Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) and Direct Energy Deposition (DED) technologies and has recently expanded its portfolio to include advanced laser processes, such as remote laser welding for e-mobility and laser surface treatment for tooling and industrial components.

Thanks to its R&D initiatives and strategic partnerships, Prima Additive has taken a leading role in numerous European innovation projects aimed at advancing laser technologies and sustainable manufacturing. In 2022, the merger with Italian startup 3D New Technologies (3D-NT) further strengthened the company’s presence in the Powder Bed Fusion market. With Sodick’s support, Prima Additive is now positioned to scale these solutions globally.

Founded in 1976 and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Sodick is a global leader in precision manufacturing technologies, including EDM, mold tooling, and metal additive manufacturing. Having entered the additive manufacturing sector in 2014, Sodick sees this acquisition as a strategic opportunity to expand its laser-based manufacturing systems portfolio and accelerate innovation in industrial production.

Following the completion of the acquisition, Paolo Calefati will remain CEO of Prima Additive, and the current management team will continue to lead the company through its next growth phase, which includes the opening of a new production facility and expansion of R&D activities in Italy, in the Turin area.

“Since Prima Additive was founded, we have been thinking about which direction to take, which technologies to focus on, and how to position ourselves in the global market”, said Paolo Calefati, CEO of Prima Additive by Sodick.

“In recent years, we have experienced significant growth in terms of product development and international expansion, strengthening our ambition to build highly industrial and automated advanced laser solutions.

Sodick is the right partner to take on this challenge: with their industrial experience and strong support, we will continue to pursue bold goals in our core markets.

A special thank you goes to Prima Industrie, which allowed us to reach this point and helped shape the mindset with which we faced the challenges of our journey. We are proud of our origins and look forward with enthusiasm to what lies ahead”.

With a new brand identity and a clear strategic vision, Prima Additive by Sodick aims to scale additive manufacturing for industrial production, delivering innovative, automated, and globally accessible solutions in the world of advanced laser technologies for additive manufacturing and material processing.