BASF and Shapeways announce a partnership

BASF has developed into a leader in the 3D printing materials industry over the past few years. Over the years, the company has developed a number of collaborations and acquired many small but promising players from the world of additive technologies. At the same time, the company constantly invests in the development of new products, surprising users with the premieres of new materials.

Now, BASF has partnered with Shapeways. The collaboration will give a wider range of Shapeways customers access to BASF’s line of industrial materials, developed under the Forward AM brand. Through its platform, Shapeways will provide 3D printing services from BASF’s engineering materials, which will allow them to ensure high quality and repeatability of 3D models. The experience of BASF employees will also enrich the order fulfillment process.

Jim Reddy, responsible for BASF’s North American division, emphasizes that the partnership with Shapeways will enable a wider customer base to access special engineering materials. this is part of BASF’s strategy. In order to accelerate the adoption of large-scale additive manufacturing, he adds, the company focuses on making their high-performance materials readily available to consumers.

This is confirmed by Miko Levy, Shapeways’ director of risk management, who says the partnership supports BASF’s vision of expanding the availability of Forward AM’s materials.

So far, the offer of materials from which prints can be ordered, includes four types of Forward AM materials. Another five more will be added in the next phase of cooperation, before the end of the year. Among them were:

• Ultrasint® PP – Industrial grade Ultrasint® powders provide design freedom and adaptability to create complex geometries. PP material ensures repeatable production quality, suitable for low-volume production,
• Ultracur3D® RG 35 – a photopolymer material that will prove useful in the production of precise multifunctional elements with high stiffness,
• Ultrasint® TPU01 – enables the production of flexible functional parts,
• HP High Reusability PP – durable and chemically resistant material, compatible with HP Jet Fusion 3D printing systems.