Arkema to accelerate materials development with new commercial 3D printing platform

French chemicals company Arkema is the latest company to launch a commercial platform dedicated specifically to 3D printing solutions. The platform, called 3D Printing Solutions by Arkema, will primarily seek to advance and accelerate the development of materials adapted for a range of 3D printing technologies.

As part of its effort to expand the range of 3D printing materials, Arkema will leverage its own expertise in the materials sector as well as the know-how and experience of various strategic partners in the additive manufacturing industry. In line with its material development, 3D Printing Solutions by Arkema will also focus on offering sophisticated services for AM.

“Industry today needs flexibility, freedom of design, and product customization,” explained Thierry Le Hénaff, Chairman and CEO of Arkema. “With this commercial platform, Arkema will facilitate open communication and innovation across many product offerings and services, and will be in a position to support 3D printing market players as new applications are developed.”

The establishment of the new commercial platform takes Arkema’s existing business in the 3D printing market to the next level. Presently, the company already offers a range of materials for additive manufacturing, including a range of photocure resins and high performance thermoplastic polymers.

Notably, the company produces materials for several different 3D printing technologies, including photocuring, powder bed fusion and filament-based printing. These material ranges include flagship brands such as N3xtDimension resins, Rilsan biosources polyamides and Kepstan PEKK polymers. 

Guillaume de Crevoisier, who has been named the Global Business Director for the new commercial platform, commented: “3D Printing solutions by Arkema will boost the Group’s positioning in this market and will help us, together with our partners, develop 3D printing into an industrial manufacturing technology.”

The French chemical company has made significant investments in the additive manufacturing sector and clearly believes it is on its way to becoming a viable industrial manufacturing solution. Aside from its new 3D Printing Solutions platform, Arkema also recently announced new production capacities for PEKK resins in the U.S., for photocure resins in China in 2019 and for polyamide 11 biosourced resins in the Asian market in 2021.

Arkema also recently opened a new Center of Excellence for UV-curable resins in the U.S., adding to its established research center for filament-based 3D printing in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania and a powder bed sintering research center in Serquigny, France.