Geleen & Heerenveen, The Netherlands, 24 September 2020 - Royal DSM, a global science-based company in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living, and Nedcam, a provider of total solutions for the realization of 3D shapes, today announced their collaboration to improve access to scalable Fused Granulate Fabrication (FGF) 3D printing. Nedcam will be offering FGF 3D printing using DSM materials and the two companies will explore new applications in tooling, large-size and circular end-use parts.
Nedcam, providing total solutions in shaping technology, ranging from engineering, material selection and tooling to special transport, recently added a CEAD AM Flexbot robotic 3D printer to their site in Heerenveen. Collaborating with DSM on material and 3D printing technology, Nedcam will offer commercial 3D printing production services to manufacturers looking for large-size applications, using DSM’s optimized pellet materials.
The two companies will also collaborate to develop and test new materials, processes and applications and will bring innovative solutions to markets requiring large-size 3D printing, such as marine, renewable energy, construction and infrastructure. They are currently collaborating closely with Royal HaskoningDHV for slicing of structural elements.
“At DSM we believe that FGF is a critical technology to address the need for manufacturing structural and large-size components using highly filled polymers at competitive production lead times,” said Pieter Leen, Application Development Specialist Additive Manufacturing at DSM. “Nedcam provides an important link between product development and market demand and their printing activities will help accelerate the adoption of additive manufacturing.”
The cooperation also opens the door for the two companies to realize their common ambition to drive manufacturing into more sustainable and circular processes. Nedcam currently produces plugs and molds from various materials, including glass fiber reinforced composites and steel, often for single or limited use, resulting in tons of waste every year. FGF production using recyclable materials offers a route to a more sustainable process.
“We absolutely want to reduce the waste in our production process and go circular,” said Erwin van Maaren, Co-founder and Commercial Director at Nedcam. By combining DSM’s 3D printing and thermoplastics expertise with our production knowledge and production facilities, we want take the necessary steps toward a sustainable and fully circular model production process.”
Cover image: CEAD AM Flexbot 3D printer
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DSM – Bright Science. Brighter Living.™
Arnilene® is a brand of Royal DSM, a global, purpose-led, science-based company active in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living. DSM’s purpose is to create brighter lives for all. DSM addresses with its products and solutions some of the world’s biggest challenges while simultaneously creating economic, environmental and societal value for all its stakeholders – customers, employees, shareholders, and society at large. DSM delivers innovative solutions for human nutrition, animal nutrition, personal care and aroma, medical devices, green products and applications, and new mobility and connectivity. DSM and its associated companies deliver annual net sales of about €10 billion with approximately 23,000 employees. The company was founded in 1902 and is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. More information on Arnilene and DSM’s additive manufacturing activities can be found at www.dsm.com/additive-manufacturing/ Nedcam Shaping Technology
Nedcam originated as a spin-off from MARIN (Marine Research Institute Netherlands) and therefore has a great affinity with yacht building. Over the years Nedcam has translated that knowledge of materials and techniques into other markets and vice versa. With an open mind for new combinations of materials and techniques, Nedcam has become the link between design and reality for various industries such as yacht building, architecture, infrastructure, automotive, wind energy and art & design. More information can be found at www.nedcam.com.