Solvay has recently announced a cooperation agreement with Stratasys (NASDAQ: SSYS) to develop new high-performance additive manufacturing (AM) filaments for exclusive use in Stratasys’ FDM® F900® 3D Printers.
“Stratasys’ customers have been repeatedly asking for more varied, high-performance materials, while many of Solvay’s customers want our high-performance polymers to be enabled for use on Stratasys’ industrial 3D printing systems. This important partnership between our two companies now allows us to fulfil these burgeoning needs,” said Christophe Schramm, business manager for Additive Manufacturing for Solvay’s Specialty Polymers global business unit.
As part of their joint product roadmap, Solvay and Stratasys will work together to develop a high-performance AM filament based on Solvay’s versatile Radel® polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) polymer that will meet stringent FAR* 25.853 compliance requirements for use in aerospace applications. Both companies aim to commercialize this new Radel® PPSU filament in 2020. Additional high-performance products meeting industry-specific needs in other key AM end-use markets will follow.
“Solvay is a trusted leader of diverse, tested materials for demanding aerospace, automotive, and medical industries. We’re proud to have this new collaboration agreement in place which will give customers the ability to further expand FDM 3D printing into production applications,” said Rich Garrity, President, Stratasys Americas.
Solvay has a 25-year track record with Radel® PPSU grades developed specifically for use in aircraft cabin interior components which are compliant with all commercial and regulatory requirements for flammability, smoke density, heat release, and toxic gas emissions. These grades also offer excellent chemical resistance and exceptional toughness.
“This partnership with Stratasys is an important step in Solvay’s strategy to build a solid, diverse AM ecosystem to better serve our customers. The combination of Solvay’s materials’ selection and expertise with Stratasys’ high quality, repeatable 3D printing capabilities will open up new possibilities for additive manufacturing in more of the industries that we serve today for ‘traditional’ manufacturing,” said Schramm.
Solvay made the announcement at Rapid + TCT show in Detroit, USA May 21-23.
® Radel is a registered trademark of Solvay.
* Federal Aviation Regulations
About Stratasys
Stratasys is a global leader in additive manufacturing or 3D printing technology and is the manufacturer of FDM® and PolyJet™ 3D Printers. The company’s technologies are used to create prototypes, manufacturing tools, and production parts for industries, including aerospace, automotive, healthcare, consumer products and education. For 30 years, Stratasys products have helped manufacturers reduce product-development time, cost, and time-to-market, as well as reduce or eliminate tooling costs and improve product quality. The Stratasys 3D printing ecosystem of solutions and expertise includes: 3D printers, materials, software, expert services, and on-demand parts production.
About Solvay
Solvay is an advanced materials and specialty chemicals company, committed to developing chemistry that addresses key societal challenges. Solvay innovates and partners with customers worldwide in many diverse end markets. Its products are used in planes, cars, batteries, smart and medical devices, as well as in mineral and oil and gas extraction, enhancing efficiency and sustainability. Its lightweighting materials promote cleaner mobility, its formulations optimize the use of resources and its performance chemicals improve air and water quality. Solvay is headquartered in Brussels with around 24,500 employees in 61 countries.
