【3D Printing News】2019 K Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber: New Materials Bloom!
Held every three years in Germany, the "K Trade Fair" is the leading exhibition for the plastics and rubber industry. In response to the booming development of 3D printing, globally renowned material suppliers are vying to showcase their 3D printing materials. The 2019 K Trade Fair attracted 225,000 visitors from 165 countries and over 3,300 exhibitors from around the world, including, of course, more than 80 members of the Ultimaker 3D Printing Material Alliance.
"The crowds at the 2019 K Trade Fair reflect the massive emerging materials market of recent times," said Paul Heiden, Vice President of Products at Ultimaker. "We are delighted to see 3D printing development take a forward-looking position among raw material suppliers." In addition to the Ultimaker Material Alliance, the exhibition also showcased the latest applications of various additive manufacturing technologies such as SLA resin 3D printing and SLS powder sintering, all contributing to the development of the 3D printing industry.
Competing for Attention
"Lehvoss Group" used the Ultimaker S5 Pro Bundle to print their new LUVOCOM®3F filament at the exhibition. Suitable for high-performance industrial applications, it comes in four different materials, primarily PAHT® and PET. Two of these are carbon fiber reinforced, offering high processability, low distortion, and excellent durability and stability.
"Arkema (French company)" created more added value in terms of durability, sustainability, and design. At the exhibition, they used their new flexible nylon Pebax material in the Ultimaker S5 to print shoe insoles and sneaker midsoles, as well as their Kynar fluoropolymer filament for 3D printing automotive accessories and consumable parts.
Adrien Lapeyre, Global 3D Printing Market Manager at Arkema, emphasized: "The 2019 K Trade Fair paid close attention to sustainable materials, aligning with our FFF 3D printing material philosophy. Using Ultimaker to 3D print final parts for customers generated a tremendous response, and we hope to explore more related applications. We believe that 'extreme worlds require extreme materials,' and collaborating with Ultimaker 3D printing has also allowed us to demonstrate higher quality."
Not to be outdone, DSM also used Novamid®ID 1030-CF10 in the Ultimaker S5 to print Ducati motorcycle accessories, showcasing how 3D printing can provide alternative production methods for the automotive industry.
Swiss company Clariant also shared its vision for the circular economy, waste reduction, and plastic recycling at this exhibition. They offer eight materials in the Ultimaker Cura "Marketplace," including glass-reinforced or carbon fiber-reinforced PA6/66, PETG, and ESD-safe materials.
Two Iglidur materials from German company Igus GmbH are highly wear-resistant and even offer lifetime durability, suitable for applications ranging from product prototypes to small-batch manufacturing. Their development engineer, Niklas Eutebach, stated: "The application of 3D printing has attracted attention in many industries, as reflected by the extensive services we provide to customers daily. This also accelerates the development of more emerging materials to meet market demand."
BASF, at the exhibition, emphasized how the "Ultimaker Material Alliance" enables new and faster industrial applications through FFF 3D printing. Huntsman, an American company and the latest partner of the Ultimaker Material Alliance, showcased its IROPRINT F 80213 filament, an 85A Shore hardness TPU. It offers lower friction, overcoming the difficulties typically associated with printing TPU, and provides a new option for the footwear industry.
New Applications, Easier Than Ever
Exploring these new materials can be simple. Download the latest version of Ultimaker Cura for free, and you can download official optimized 3D printing parameters from the "Marketplace" to easily achieve stable printing results. Alternatively, you can refer to our high-quality 3D printing services. We will continue to share the latest information on 3D printing and manufacturing processes. Be sure to like and follow our Facebook page to get the latest news!Follow our fan page to stay updated:https://www.facebook.com/3dmart.com.tw/
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