EnvisionTEC and Henkel recently announced an expansion of their partnership agreement to further drive the adoption of production-level 3D printing. Over the past two years, the companies have collaborated on a variety of applications. With the launch of EnvisionTEC’s next-generation Xtreme DLP and Envision One cDLM HT printer technologies and the expansion of Henkel’s industrial-grade materials portfolio, the companies report that they are well-positioned to support the volume production of end-use parts.
Both companies have already engaged in printing parts for the medical and industrial sectors. Henkel’s new materials are reportedly designed to create a shift in photopolymer material chemistry and to deliver FDM functionality with the surface finish and accuracy of SLA/DLP using EnvisionTEC’s high-speed production systems. Together, the partners aim to tap into the potential to leverage this material know-how in accelerating the adoption of DLP technology in industrial production. Henkel reports that the combination of its material expertise and EnvisionTEC’s printer technology enables the creation of parts that are stable over time without losing mechanical properties, becoming brittle over time, or changing color while maintaining accuracy and surface finish.
EnvisionTEC’s patented continuous digital light manufacturing (cDLM) high-temperature (HT) technology platform will be included with Henkel’s 3D printing ecosystem to leverage the customer base across more than 800 industry segments. Further, the partners will also collaborate for Loctite-branded formulations validated for use on the Xtreme DLP machine. This new large-format 3D printer reportedly allows for the production of large 3D parts, built at fast speeds without sacrificing surface quality and part accuracy.
“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with EnvisionTEC and their innovative cDLM technology,” said Simon Mawson, Ph.D., senior vice president and global head of 3D Printing at Henkel. “EnvisionTEC’s new E1 High Temp printer allows Henkel to move beyond the boundaries of viscosity limitations by enabling highly viscous or solid resins, such as Loctite 3955 FST, the first 3D photopolymer that passes vertical burn and aerospace FST standards and Loctite IND402, a single component elastomer material with high resilience and tensile strength, to be heated and printed under controlled conditions. These new generation Loctite materials combined with EnvisionTEC E1 High Temp printers will accelerate the adoption of industrial additive manufacturing.”
“For 19 years EnvisionTEC has focused on delivering not just equipment or materials, but true solutions,” said Al Siblani, EnvisionTEC CEO, “We are pleased that our hard work and collaboration with Henkel over the past two years has resulted in the ability to now offer practical solutions to high-volume manufacturing applications that will disrupt traditional processes while offering a solid return on investment.”
For more information, visit www.henkel.com and https://envisiontec.com.
