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French SME offering new technology for 3D printing of high temperature polymers for licencing

Summary

Profile Type
Technology offer
POD Reference
TOFR20240220004
Term of Validity
20 February 2024 - 19 February 2025
Company's Country
France
Type of partnership
Commercial agreement with technical assistance
Targeted Countries
All countries
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General information

Short Summary
A French SME designs and produces 3D printers with a unique know-how of very high temperature heated chambers (up to 400°C). It currently has several applications for 3D printing of high performance polymers parts used in aerospace, sports and security industries as well as for advanced materials R&D in research centres.
The company is now looking to licence out fully or partly its know-how to advanced polymers or 3D printing companies.
Full Description
The company has developed a high temperature 3D printing process and printers equipment for so-called 'ultra polymers' (eg. high temperature thermoplastics). Only a handful companies worldwide have similar skills but using different technologies.

For temperatures up to 270°C, the SME manufactures and sells 3D printers with a very high temperature chamber facilitating the printing of 'ultra polymers' parts. This equipment is fitted with several features such as :
- adaptative heated chamber
- remote control and monitoring thanks to an IoT system
- modular design
- air thermal insulation
The simple design and modularity reduces purchase costs. It also makes the device suitable for industrial production and, finally, it increases reliability, as the various components are easy to replace and repair.

This mature technology is used by some sports manufacturers such as ski makers, as well as large aerospace or railway maintenance firms which did not find competing technologies for technical parts made of high performance polymers. It's perfectly adapted to mass production, but is also used by some research institutes for their own R&D.

The 10 years of research and development of heated chamber 3D printers has been awarded several global high temperature polymers awards (like Solvay contest).

Thanks to this experience, the company has more recently develpped an improved technology reaching extremely high temperature (350 to 400°C), still at early stage of development which will allow to use new high performance polymers currently under development for new aerospace 3D printed parts. No such technology is currently available in the market.

The SME has patented these developments and is now eager to find partners within the polymer and 3D printing industries to transfer its know-how under licence.
The partnership sought concerns both developed and mature technologies for production under licence as well as advanced technologies under development.
Advantages and Innovations
Cheap to exploit : heating time reduced thus saving energy

Eco-friendly designed 3D printer

Adaptable to a broad range of specifications thanks to its modularity
Typical parts size : 300 x 250 x 300 mm up to 500 x 400 x 400 mm
Stage of Development
Already on the market
Sustainable Development Goals
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureGoal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Partner Sought

Expected Role of a Partner
3D printing or polymers industrial companies expected to acquire the technology to produce 3D printers or finalize the development of new advanced 3D printers.
Type and Size of Partner
SME 11-49SME 50 - 249SME <=10Big company
Type of partnership
Commercial agreement with technical assistance

Call details

Coordinator required
Yes

Dissemination

Technology keywords
02007014 - Plastics, Polymers3D printing
Market keywords
08003005 - Other industrial machinery for textile, paper & other industries08003007 - Other industrial equipment and machinery09004008 - Other manufacturing (not elsewhere classified)08002007 - Other industrial automation08003001 - Machine tools, other metal working equipment (excl. numeric control)
Targeted countries
All countries