BASF’s Forward AM and Photocentric launch new photopolymer product line
BASF 3D Printing Solutions – through its brand Forward AM – is deepening its partnership with photopolymer 3D printing company Photocentric to bring to market a new portfolio of advanced 3D printing materials for Photocentric’s LCD daylight 3D printing technology. Photocentric will offer the new tailor-made photopolymers under the “Ultracur3D Powered by Photocentric” brand.
The new product line consists of 10 materials for Photocentric’s LCD daylight technology, though more materials will eventually be added to it. Ultracur3D EPD 1006 Powered by Photocentric is the first material to be released by the partners and to be marketed by them.
“From the very beginning of our cooperation, together we have aimed to extend the possibilities of advanced photopolymer solutions to address the enormous spectrum of applications opened up by the outstanding performance of this additive manufacturing technology,” said François Minec, Managing Director BASF 3D Printing Solutions. “We believe the combination of the expertise gained through decades of BASF research into 3D printing materials, our unique material portfolio, and Photocentric’s remarkable printer technology, genuinely has potential to enable cost competitive parts printing and thus make mass-manufacturing of functional end-use parts a reality.”
The new jointly offered material line has been specifically developed for Photocentric’s resin 3D printing technology which uses LCD screens to rapidly cure and build 3D parts. Presently, the UK-based company offers a range of desktop 3D printers for the production of small volume highly detailed components (for the dental and jewelry industries, among others) as well as large format 3D printers, capable of producing larger parts at high volume scale. The new materials will enable Photocentric customers to achieve custom mass production for a wider range of applications.
“Photocentric is deepening its partnership with BASF to facilitate the custom mass manufacture of components in a wide variety of industries,” added Paul Holt, Managing Director of Photocentric Ltd. “Together we have created a unique combination of software, hardware and chemistry that removes obstacles to using additive manufacturing in mass production. Working with Forward AM, we have developed a portfolio of products that delivers the required functional properties perfectly, enables high-resolution mass manufacture, and thereby adds real customer value.”
Earlier this summer, Photocentric announced an agreement with the British government to supply over 7.6 million 3D printed face shields to NHS staff. To achieve these numbers, the company is using its LCD Screen 3D printing technology to print the PPE at a rate of millions of units per month.
