Materials, Sustainability and Development: AM News Roundup for September 18-30

ICYMI: Materials and sustainability continue to be a priority for the additive manufacturing community. Essentium, Loctite, Chromatic, 6K, SINTX, M. Holland, and Waters Corporation all announced new materials, several supporting sustainability goals. Investment and development also were in the spotlight with grants, scholarships, and initiatives announced by SINTX, Xometry, Concurrent Technologies, and Boston Microfabrication.

Here’s a quick look at these stories and more.

In-Situ Monitoring “AcGovDustrial” Network Formed: Sigma Additive Solutions, Inc. announced that it has formalized its program of working with universities, research labs, government organizations, and industrial companies to provide a platform for improving collaboration related to in-situ monitoring and real-time analysis for quality assurance, certification, and qualification of additively manufactured parts. READ MORE

Ultra-precise Parts Focus of Henkel and Prodways Collaboration: Henkel announced a collaboration with a new ecosystem partner, Prodways. With this new collaboration, users can access Loctite’s high-performance 3D printing resins on the Prodways’ industrial platform to further enable the production of ultra-precise parts. READ MORE

Polyolefin Materials for Sustainable AM at Scale:  Essentium, Inc. announced it is partnering with Braskem to offer manufacturers a fully integrated additive manufacturing machine and materials solution. Combining the Essentium High Speed Extrusion (HSE^TM) 280i HT 3D Printer with Braskem’s polyolefin materials will unlock affordable, sustainable, and rapid volume production of 3D printed thermoplastic components. READ MORE

Chromatic Announces Breakthrough Smooth-Mode Technology for Ultra-Smooth 3D-Printed Rubber Parts: Chromatic 3D Materials has developed breakthrough Smooth-Mode technology for 3D printing of durable rubber parts with ultra-smooth surfaces at commercial volumes. Industrial manufacturers can 3D print smooth, high-quality polyurethane parts, such as seals, gaskets, grommets, bladders and other elastomeric products, with no post processing or surface finishing. READ MORE

Micro 3D Printing Initiative Announced by BMF: Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) announced the opening of a new research and development center in San Diego, CA. The BMF Research Institute is being formed specifically to develop and incubate end-product ideas that are uniquely enabled by BMF’s micro 3D printing platform. READ MORE

World’s Largest Additive Manufacturing Machine: Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) was recently awarded a $5.2 million U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) contract that involves building the world’s largest additive manufacturing (AM) machine. The project intends to overcome the limits of current AM (3D) equipment to build longer parts for critical defense applications. READ MORE

Hyliion Holdings Acquires GE’s Hydrogen and Fuel Agnostic Generator Technology:  Hyliion Holdings Corp. announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a new hydrogen and fuel agnostic capable generator (“KARNO”) from GE Additive. READ MORE

Smith+Nephew First with Revision Knee on Robotics Platform: Smith+Nephew announced the first cases for revision knee replacement utilizing its CORI◊ Surgical System. Dr. Thorsten Seyler of Duke University performed the first cases on August 17, 2022, combining Smith+Nephew’s handheld robotics technology with its LEGION◊ Revision Knee System. Smith+Nephew is the first orthopaedics company to receive FDA 510(k) clearance for a revision indication using a robotics-assisted platform. READ MORE

Surgalign Launches Interbody Fusion Devices with TiPlus™ Technology: Surgalign Holdings, Inc. announced the expansion of its Fortilink product portfolio with the introduction and commercial launch of a new family of interbody fusion devices featuring TiPlus technology and 3D printing. READ MORE

Quickparts Acquires Xcentric Mold & Engineering to Expand Digital Manufacturing: Quickparts announced the acquisition of Xcentric Mold & Engineering an innovator of on-demand digital manufacturing. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. READ MORE

Hyliion Holdings Acquires GE’s Hydrogen and Fuel Agnostic Generator Technology: Hyliion Holdings Corp. announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a new hydrogen and fuel agnostic capable generator (“KARNO”) from GE Additive. READ MORE

3D Printed Ceramic Heat Exchangers Development Grant Awarded: SINTX Technologies, Inc. announced the receipt of a Phase II award of $1.1M, issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop, design and characterize 3D-printed alumina ceramic heat exchangers for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC). READ MORE

Medical Device Innovation and Advancement of Care Focus of FDA, VHA Collaboration: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) announced a collaboration intended to help accelerate American medical device innovation to further improve and benefit public health. READ MORE

Full Tuition Scholarships for Manufacturing Announced by CCAT, CT Community Colleges and Xometry: The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT), Connecticut community colleges and Xometry will announce Xometry’s donation of full-tuition scholarships for community college students across the state studying to become the next generation of skilled machinists, technicians and engineers. READ MORE

Dental 3D Printer Series Upgrade from Nexa3D: Nexa3D announced the immediate availability of its new Professional Series upgrade for its NXD 200 dental 3D printer. Based on Nexa3D’s ultrafast LSPc™ technology, the Pro Series delivers higher productivity and model accuracy with greater print success. READ MORE

Critical Battery Materials Focus of 6K Energy and ONE Joint Development Agreement: 6K announced that its 6K Energy division has signed a joint development agreement with Our Next Energy (ONE) to develop and produce the critical battery material that ONE will use in their Gemini and Aries battery platforms. READ MORE

3D Printed Antimicrobial Trauma Device Development Grant Awarded by NIH: SINTX Technologies, Inc. announced a Phase I grant of $275k awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop and test an antimicrobial trauma device. READ MORE

Repeatable Powder Analysis with TA Instruments Rheometer: Waters Corporation introduced new, innovative powder rheology tooling and software for its TA Instruments™ HR Rheometers allowing scientists to make precise, repeatable powder analysis (rheology measurements) simpler and faster. READ MOREPost-Consumer Recycled Resins Offered by M. Holland Company: M. Holland Company announced its offering of up to 100%- PCR content resins. These materials are carrier resins for masterbatches that empower sustainable innovation in the plastics industry by helping OEMs and molders in the packaging, automotive and consumer goods segments decrease reliance on virgin plastics. READ MORE