3D Printing Business: Verashape Introducing New VSHAPER 3D Printer at formnext, Sintratec Welcomes colorFabb as a Distributor

It’s been a pretty good year for Polish 3D printer manufacturer Verashape – its industrial VSHAPER Pro won a prestigious award, not long after the company attended its first foreign fair at Hannover Messe. Verashape also introduced a new distribution partner and a new reseller this year, and this winter it licensed Siemens PLM Software’s innovative Parasolid Communicator Software, with beta testing of the newest version of the Parasolid-based application announced not long after. Now, the company is back with its newest 3D printer, the 5-Axis VSHAPER, which will be exhibited at next week’s formnext in Frankfurt for the first time.

Formnext is the leading additive manufacturing trade show in Europe, and has grown so much that the event will encompass two exhibition halls this year. We’ve already heard about many new products and solutions that will be presented at formnext, and Verashape is joining the ranks with the 5-Axis VSHAPER 3D printer, which was created by Verashape with support from the Polish National Research and Development Center. The still-in-development 3D printer was developed by the company’s R&D department, and will, according to Vershape, “transform the way people think about 3D Printing in FFF technology.”

While this may just sound like quality marketing speak, the new VSHAPER printer makes use of 5-axis kinematics – known as the geometry of motion – and a tilting rotary working platform, so the layering method so typical of most extrusion-based 3D printers is history.

“VSHAPER 5-Axis Machine features active workspace in the shape of a cylinder with a 300 mm diameter and a 300 mm height,” explained Marek Kantowski, R&D Lead Engineer from VERASHAPE. “The device is equipped with a tool bank allowing the use of few different heads in one printing process. Thank to constant temperature inside the working chamber and heated platform, the device can process most of thermoplastic materials.”

Tomasz Szymański

The 5-Axis VSHAPER uses indexed, simultaneous 5-axis printing to enhance this layering process, in order to transfer the print surface to a separate surface that was printed out earlier. In addition, the printer can work with multiple materials in one process, so users can make models with hard material that’s been reinforced with high-strength materials and printed elastomeric seals.

“The conceptual work on the 5-Axis Machine continues, but we have decided to present its effects so that potential customers are included in the technology development process. We invite industry representatives to actively participate in this project – we are open to any suggestions,” said Tomasz Szymański, Founder and CEO of VERASHAPE. “We strive for the machine, that will become available to purchase in 2019, to meet the expectations of demanding production companies.”

You can see the new 5-Axis VSHAPER 3D printer, along with Verashape’s other solutions, at Stand F29 in Hall 3.1 from November 14-17 at formnext.

Sintratec, a Swiss high-tech company that specializes in the development and production of SLS 3D printers, will also be at formnext, where the company will be launching its new, highly flexible Sintratec TPE material, and releasing its first white paper, titled “Mechanical Post-Processing of Sintratec PA12 SLS Parts.” You can pick up your exclusive copy at formnext.

Sintratec has some other news as well – the company is expanding its distribution network with the addition of Dutch 3D printing specialist colorFabb. Sintratec looked at many factors before entering the partnership, and is convinced that this was the right choice.

“The profound knowledge about the 3D Printing industry, the closeness to their customers and especially the passion that ColorFabb brings into their daily business have fully convinced us,” said Dominik Solenicki, Sintratec AG’s CEO. “ColorFabb has tested our machines since 2015 and their decision is a proof of trust for Sintratec. We are proud to have such a well-known market player on board now. As Sintratec goes more and more from local to global we are sure that with ColorFabb we have found the right partner for the Benelux region.”

Ruud Rouleaux and Dominik Solenicki

ColorFabb will add the Sintratec Kit and the Sintratec S1, which was unveiled to the world three years ago, to its portfolio. The company has been dedicated to building relationships in the industry, as its CEO has explained that integration is key to growth. This partnership will mark colorFabb’s entrance into the desktop SLS 3D printing market, and expand Sintratec’s network to the Benelux region.

“We’ve been following the development of SLS desktop 3D printing with great interest and acquired our first Sintratec S1 at a tradeshow in 2015. We’ve experimented a lot with the Sintratec S1 and have given our engineers the time to truly understand and see the value of this technology,” said ColorFabb B.V. Director Ruud Rouleaux. “We’re now ready to share our insight and knowledge with our clients. We believe the Sintratec S1 is a unique offering which strengthens our portfolio of 3D printers and professional services.”

Sintratec will be exhibiting at formnext from November 14-17, so if you want to meet the “experts in selective laser sintering,” visit them at booth G51 in Hall 31.

3DPrint.com will be present all week in Frankfurt to follow first-hand the latest developments and announcements in the 3D printing industry.

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