BASF @ formnext
BASF exhibiting at formnext powered by TCT
In Heidelberg, Germany on September 1st, a new business was born. A business convinced of the influence it will have on a $5 billion industry. For any normal company in its first weeks of operations, it would be outlandish at best. This company, though, is different, because it stems from one of the oldest and largest material developers in the world.
BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH marks not only the commitment from one of the leading chemical companies in the game but an encouraging development for an industry that has seen its growth stunted by the limited supply of materials.
The motivation to form the wholly-owned subsidiary coincides, not by accident, with the additive manufacturing (AM) industry’s evolution from prototyping tool to manufacturing process. BASF has been monitoring the 3D printing market for years now. Its relations with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) has given the company even greater insight into the needs and wants of AM users. And with its knowledge in materials; 3D printing processing; geometric design; part property simulation; and surface finishing, BASF deems itself well positioned to inspire further growth.
“Given our experience in material and in consulting, we are convinced that we can contribute substantially to this emerging technology,” Dirk Simon, BASF’s Global Business Director, 3D Printing, told TCT. “While establishing a legal entity dedicated to 3D printing we demonstrate to serve the needs for solutions specifically to the requirements in 3D printing.
“Our goal is to produce resilient plastic materials that can be used for series production of functional components and for continuous operation of finished goods, for example in automotive and electronics applications or the sports articles and machinery industry.”
BASF is expanding 3D printing business with dedicated BASF 3D Printing Solutions.
Simon highlights the company’s wide-ranging material portfolio, claiming it’s the broadest in the industry. Beyond polymers, BASF develops formulations for ceramics and metal 3D printed parts too. He points out BASF supports the 3D printing market with ready-made materials, as well as chemicals and raw materials which can be harnessed by companies for their R&D.
The new company will focus on expanding that catalogue of materials, working closely with researchers and application engineers from both BASF and its external partners.
“BASF is strongly positioned to support 3D printing end applications as we already have an understanding of the markets and application requirements from our engineering plastics business that are now being translated into 3D printing,” Simon stresses. “[We are] of the opinion that chemistry is one key enabler for the transition from using 3D printing primary for prototyping to the broad industrial use in series products.”
The products benefit players in a variety of industries, like automotive and aerospace. BASF believes it understands the OEMs that it works with, and can provide them with access to the 3D printing market, and vice versa. While the parts made as a result of BASF 3D Printing Solutions vary across a plethora of applications, the machines they are printed on does too.
“BASF is familiar with the key technologies in 3D printing, such as Multi Jet Fusion, laser sintering, stereolithography, and 3D extrusion. In effect, this means we can support our customers along the whole value chain of 3D printing. BASF thinks in the long-term and is strongly committed to 3D printing,” Simon concludes. “To our customers, this means they gain a reliable partner is this volatile market. Based on our experience in developing sustainable solutions, we can also help our customers to address the market needs.”
