Stratasys and seven other companies join the AMGTA

The responsibility of sustainable development for the sake of the planet’s future applies to all of us. From year to year, the need to increase awareness of the effects of the exploitation of natural deposits and emissions of pollutants is becoming more and more valuable. It is no different in the 3D printing industry, where the AMGTA association is responsible for the need for ecological awareness of users and producers.

AMGTA (Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association) is the first association in the additive technology industry to promote and educate about the benefits of sustainable development in the industry. Along with more and more companies that have decided to join the association, it is becoming more and more popular. Currently, the association has 28 members, incl. Sintavia, ExOne, DyeMansion, BASF 3D Printing Solutions or TRUMPF. A few days ago, an industry leader, Stratasys, also became one of the members, receiving the title of Founding Member.

Sherry Handel, executive director of AMGTA, says that the companies together want to determine the direction of the organization’s development and follow-up, and consider what research and development work they can undertake towards implementing considerations in the field of development in the additive industry. At the same time, companies such as Metalforge, 3D Systems, 3YOURMIND, AMT, Hyperion Metals, NatureWorks and The Barnes Global Advisors joined the association.

The mission of the association is to conduct research that will allow to maximize the advantages of 3D printing technology as part of activities in line with the philosophy of sustainable development. At the same time, they want to educate the public about the positive impact of 3D printing technology on the environment and promote it as an alternative to traditional production methods.

The growing interest in the association reflects the needs of the additive technology industry. The creators emphasize a number of pro-ecological aspects of additive technologies, such as distributed additive production, reducing the need to transport goods and minimizing production waste, resulting from the specificity of the technology. The association also obliges its members to promote environmentally friendly solutions.

An example is the process developed by Materialise in which the amount of production waste has been reduced to a minimum. Actions taken by Materialise are also an expression of concern for the condition of the natural environment. According to the information provided by the manufacturer, Bluesint PA12 elements have similar mechanical properties to the standard PA12. As he adds, this allows users to make a choice based not only on the technical specifications, but also on the environmental impact of the method.