Forward AM is a subsidiary of BASF, an international chemical manufacturing firm. Forward AM has struck a deal to make strong its collaboration with Prismlab, an additive manufacturing procedure and hardware provider.
The agreement that was signed at the Shanghai base of Prismlab will witness some of its additive manufacturing photopolymer products included in the Ultracur3D photopolymer portfolio of Forward AM.
Closer coordination with Prismlab makes strong the position of Forward AM in the Asian markets. Also, it allows it to push its large-scale AM solutions across the world, in a variety of sectors.
“Through adding selected photopolymer products from Prismlab to our portfolio, we are broadening our product offering to the rapidly developing Asian market. We are convinced that this partnership strengthens our market position, especially in the orthodontic industry, and will enable us to engage deeper with downstream customers,” stated Managing Director at BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH, François Minec.
“We are currently setting up local production, logistics and technical services in Asia to reinforce our presence in the region.”
Initially founded in 2017 as BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH (B3DPS), Forward AM, a BASF’s arm centres on setting up and growing the company’s additive manufacturing business in materials, components, systems, and services.
Because of this, BASF has purchased several AM firms, and set up a chain of partnerships, so as to expand its selection of materials.
Forward AM started to grow rapidly and in 2017 August, BASF bought Dutch filament producer Innofil3D. A firm whose selection comprised of PET, PLA, ABS and InnoCircle resins. That was followed by the purchases of Solvay’s international polyamide commercial, and material firm Advanc3D Materials and Setup Performance. These were afterwards combined into the portfolio of printing stuff firms by BASF.
Forward AM has as well partnered with several AM businesses in that period so as to grow both enhanced and new additive manufacturing materials. For example, in October 2019, the firm worked with Essentium, a 3D printer provider Texas-located firm. The objective of this collaboration was to create a new chain of “Ultrafuse” filaments and also found an international dispensation network.
More deals came afterwards. They include partnerships with AM startup Origin that grew the service offering of Forward AM and the strategic Investment created in Prismlab in 2018 November.
Prismlab was founded in 2015and it is the licensed holder of “Pixel Resolution Enhanced Technology” or “MFP.” Depending on SLA, the patented technology of Primslab is created additively manufactured huge pieces at a high resolution. Also, it is connected to the firm’s own variety of 3D printers. After the agreement with BASF in 2018, that witnessed the latter go on to expand its product variety, the companies are now collaborating closely, to increase the reach of their specific stuff.
