FORMATEC that hosts MIM, CIM, and 3D printing technologies makes pieces for several sectors. This is mainly for the medical, chemical, and aesthetical industries. The company has added ceramic additive manufacturing to its armory of production processes. Through this inclusion, the firm will have the additional gear to make all kinds of merchandise in these sectors. These are products that need exceptional properties and polish qualities.
This additional will also assist the company to concentrate on helping the high tech and select consumer goods sectors. Most importantly, the inclusion of in-house ceramic AM to its service will allow the Dutch firm to print ceramic pieces with more compact geometries. This is all while lessening lead times, costs, and labor. The firm also stresses that properties of additively manufactured pieces are equal to CIM pieces. This is due to the use of similar raw material.
The General Manager at FORMATEC, René Bult said this: “With our team, we can offer our customers added value through our extensive knowledge and experience with ceramics as a CIM pioneer. This combined with the almost endless possibilities that 3D printing offers we are excited for the opportunities that lie ahead.”
FORMATEC is now offering five varied techniques of shaping ceramics. This will allow it to match the needs of its customers to a higher precise point. The firm has now started its ceramic 3D printing manufacture and is receiving requests.
“We’ve chosen 3D printing because we wanted to compare this quite new and interesting technique with ‘standard’ ceramics manufacturing,” explained Peter Glajc, Mechanical Engineer at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “3D printing was cheaper and faster.”
Formatec is based in the Netherlands.
While Formatec will have an added advantage in this field, there are some players doing the same. Some of them are Alumina Systems and Kwambio. According to Formatec, it is interested in advancing ceramic 3D printing service.
