BASF to expand 3D printing business with dedicated BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH.
Chemical giant, BASF has announced plans to establish a new Group company dedicated to additive manufacturing.
Set to launch on September 1st, the BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of BASF New Business GmbH (BNB) and headquartered at its InnovationLab GmbH site in Heidelberg, Germany. The new company will primarily focus its efforts on firms wanting to use 3D printing for industrial production in the automotive, aerospace and consumer goods sectors.
The new business will focus on establishing and expanding materials, system solutions, components and services in the field of 3D printing. BASF will work closely with internal researchers and application engineers along with external partners, such as universities and potential customers, in order to develop solutions for a wide range of applications.
“The field of 3D printing for industrial applications is highly dynamic and still emerging," Volker Hammes, Managing Director at BASF New Business and future Managing Director of BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH commented. "This means there is a need for agile, startup-like structures with interdisciplinary teams and quick decision-making processes. Combining the customer-focused 3D printing activities in one location at a dedicated business is an important success factor."
BASF first began working with 3D printing in 2015 as part of its BNB group which identifies and develops long term trends into new ventures. It has already been developing integrated 3D materials solutions with Prodways, Laser Sinter Service, Farsoon and also HP as part of its HP Jet Fusion Open Platform.
In addition, BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH will be taking over and expanding the 3D printing application technology centre in Heidelberg belonging to Deutsche Nanoschicht GmbH, a subsidiary of BASF New Business, in order to develop and test a variety of solutions. The new venture will initially employ around 30 experts, many of whom were already working for BASF in the field of 3D printing.
