General Electric to acquire two 3D printing companies

US electrical giant General Electric has announced the acquisition of a pair of 3D printing companies for a combined $1.4bn.

Swedish company Arcam and Germany's SLM solutions will be bought by GE as it makes a push towards the technology, which has become widely used recently in the manufacturing of cars, engines and healthcare equipment.

Acram invented the electron beam melting machine for metal-based 3D printing, and had $68m in revenues in 2015.

Based in Lubeck, Germany, SLM makes lasers for 3D printers, and generated $74m in revenue in 2015, employing 260 people.

GE offered $33.37 per share for Acram, and $38 per share for SLM.

Aviation President and CEO of General Electric David Joyce said they chose the two companies for specific reasons.

"They each bring two different, complementary additive technology modalities as individual anchors for a new GE additive equipment business to be plugged and experience as leading practitioners of additive manufacturing," Joyce said.

The headquarters and management structure for each company will remain unchanged, but both will report to Joyce.