Royal DSM is a global, science-based company with a focus on nutrition, health and sustainable living. It’s also a large contributor to the additive manufacturing industry through its 3D printing materials manufacturer Somos and its resins for DLP and SLA 3D printing. Last year, the company increased its focus on 3D printing through a new business called DSM Additive Manufacturing, and expanded its materials development to include FFF 3D printing materials as well. It has also been researching other 3D printing methods.
Arnite ID 3040
DSM had been working with stereolithography materials for 25 years, using its expertise in engineering plastics to develop new printing materials. The company is now expanding into all polymer 3D printing technologies based on its research, including selective laser sintering, ink jet, Multi Jet Fusion and Binder Jet processes. On the FFF side of things, DSM has announced that filament supplier FormFutura will be distributing its materials through a new partnership.
“At DSM, we believe that partnerships across the additive manufacturing ecosystem are critical to unlock the full potential of this new technology,” said Jill Cohen, Global Director Marketing & Sales for DSM Additive Manufacturing. “Our collaboration with FormFutura allows us to extend our global reach, providing customers with easy ordering and support for our high-performance filaments across all regions and markets.”
Arnite ID 2045
FormFutura produces several of its own filaments, including specialty materials like StoneFil, MetalFil, EasyCork and many more. To start, it will be offering four of DSM’s industrial-grade filaments:
- Arnite ID 3040: a pure PET filament that combines high heat resistance, strength and dimensional stability with good processing characteristics
- Arnitel ID 2045: a highly flexible TPC (thermoplastic copolyester) that has good UV and chemical resistance and can be used in a wide range of applications from sports mouth guards to electronics
- Novamid ID 1030: a pure polyamide developed for harsh environments and high temperatures up to 125°C
- Novamid ID 1070: a ductile, strong polymer suitable for harsh environments and high temperatures up to 150°C, it has good layer-to-layer adhesion, strength and toughness
Novamid ID 1030
A fifth 3D printing material will be announced next week.
Novamid ID 1070
“We are proud of this collaboration with DSM as we see a rapidly growing demand in the FFF 3D printing market for industrial grade and high-performance materials in both industrial and SME sectors,” said Arnold Medenblik, CEO of Formfutura. “The DSM materials are a great addition to our Formfutura product range and through our global network of resellers, these high-performance polymers will now be available to everyone. This new portfolio will also open doors to new markets for both Formfutura and our partners.”
In addition to being an official distribution partner for Royal DSM, Formfutura will also cooperate in new test methods that will make it easy to compare mechanical properties of 3D printed objects across its combined filament ranges.
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[Images: FormFutura]