In order to ensure that its customers can use 3D printing technology more broadly in industrial production, BASF has been working tirelessly, and recently formed a new subsidiary, BASF 3D Printing Solutions, to reinforce their determination. At Formnext, a new generation of international manufacturing technology exhibitions in Frankfurt, BASF introduced several new product portfolios that include 3D plastic filament printing, laser powder bed melt 3D printing and photopolymer printing.
However, in order to ensure the reliability of the production of plastic parts, raw materials must be matched to the processing of 3D printing equipment and materials, and BASF therefore continually broadens its network of partners to ensure that materials are retained in printing equipment from different vendors With its high quality, BASF has recently established a new partnership with both EOS and Ricoh.
On the one hand, BASF and Ricoh, based in Ludwigshafen, Germany, are working together on material, process and application development to further market innovations, including the installation of BASF's 3D-P Application Technology Center in Heidelberg Ricoh AM S5500P to develop new materials that will improve the production capacity of high-end plastic sintering machines.
On the other hand, BASF AG and EOS AG in Munich, Germany, a technology provider in the industrialized 3D printing of metallic and polymer materials, will collaborate actively in the development of new plastic powder materials.
Peter Keller, Head of Materials and Process Development at EOS, said: "We are excited to partner with BASF to develop plastic powders for our systems that will ensure that our customers own the standard materials from different manufacturers With more options, we also believe BASF's expertise in producing high-quality polymers. "EOS, Inc., a pioneer and innovator in integrated industrial 3D printing solutions, provides its customers with systems, materials and process parameters Help with global technology development, engineering applications and consulting services, etc. With its expertise and reuse of BASF's newly developed plastic powders, EOS is able to meet the needs of its customers for 3D printing technology.
In this partnership, BASF has developed a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) powder that can be used in laser sintering processes that will be evaluated jointly with partners and customers for the specific use of the powder. The product has very good flexibility.
Other companies that partner with BASF in 3D-P equipment include:
(1) Laser Powder Bed Melting 3D Printing: 3D Systems, Farsoon, HP, Ricoh
(2) 3D plastic filament print: BigRep, Essentium, iGo3D, Ultimaker
(3) Wire Mesh 3D Printing: Apium Additive Technology, EVO Technology, Hage Sondermaschinenbau, GKN Sinter Metals
(4) Photopolymer 3D Printing: Renaissance Service, Xaar, XYZprinting