Stases cork stoppers printed using the Stratasys J55 PolyJet printer

Stases is a range of cork stoppers made for luxury spirits that celebrates the essence of the liquids contained within. The cork stoppers were created when WertelOberfell, a design studio based in Berlin and Munich, was tasked by Stratasys to design objects for the company’s J55 PolyJet printer, within the realms of packaging and retail.

The concept was based on the idea that fine spirits, such as cognacs, often have a rich history and very individual characters, and are often savored over a long period of time. To celebrate the craft and time that went into the creation of these liquors, WertelOberfell came up with the idea of ‘freezing’ this liquid in an animated state within a cork stopper.

When designing the Stases cork stoppers, WertelOberfell simulated splashing a liquid, in a spiraling way, within a containing form. By controlling the different aspects of the liquid, the design team was able to come close to a realistic representation of liquor. Stills from the different stages of the animation gave WertelOberfell direct access to the printable 3D files.

The design was a great fit for the capabilities of Stratasys’ J55 printer, which was able to recreate the fine details of the simulation, in resin that made the pieces almost look like glass – resulting in the successful visual effect of keeping a liquid in stasis. Because WertelOberfell had access to a digital animation as a 3D file source, the team was able to make each cork stopper a one-of piece by using one frame at a time for printing.

Stratasys’ J55 Prime 3D printer offers full-color printing, and high fidelity with tactile, functional, and sensory capabilities – making the efficiency and quality of PolyJet technology more affordable and office-friendly than before. The printer enables the creation of over 640,000 unique combinations, including Pantone Verified colors, and replaces traditional hand-painting techniques with vibrant color finishes.