Smart Molding International 1-2024

43 www.smart-molding.com additive manufacturing With the formulation freedom enabled by high viscosity, Supernova’s materials portfolio benefits from a broader set of available ingredients, achieving superior properties. From a chemical-base standpoint, the process can handle not only acrylates but also silicones, epoxies, or filled materials, among others. To support its long-term materials strategy, Supernova has formed partnerships with major chemical companies in AM. These relationships include a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Arkema and other partnerships with Altana, Elkem, Henkel, and Rahn. VLMtechnology has garnered significant interest in themarket, evidenced by the registration of over 500 companies in the Technology Adoption Program. These companies span various industries, including Automotive, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Consumer Goods, Footwear, Audiology, and Healthcare, among others. Strategic partnerships with customers such as Puma, Saint Gobain, Orbea, Hutchison, and Prodrive have since been driving the materials and technology development in alignment with customer needs. Apart from industrial markets, Supernova will also concentrate on the Defense and Space sectors, aiming to develop industry-specific materials that other existing AM technologies cannot process. During the next year, Supernova plans to leverage the Technology Adoption Program to develop applications in key vertical markets. This initiative aims to influence both materials development and the industrialization of hardware systems, ultimately forming a production-ready ecosystem. Beta deployments in customer sites are expected during 2024. In line with these goals, the company will be expanding its R&D teams in both materials and product (or hardware and software), as well as its business departments. BCN3D www.bcn3d.com All pictures: BCN3D