Evonik sets up joint 3D printing laboratory with UnionTech

Evonik and the Chinese company UnionTech has agreed to set up a joint R&D laboratory for 3D printing technology in Shanghai. With the capacities in material research, equipment & processes, and application research of the two companies, the laboratory aims to develop material solutions for industrial 3D applications.

“Evonik is committed to driving industrial-scale 3D printing as manufacturing technology across the entire value chain through ready-to-use material formulations,” said Toni Schreibweiss, head of business line High-Performance Polymers Asia Pacific. “The close collaboration between material and machine manufacturers is essential to open up new 3D printing applications. With the joint lab, Evonik expects an accelerated market access for new photopolymer products, especially in the very fast-growing Chinese market. We will bring our expertise in materials development and come up with innovative and diverse solutions for customers in a faster and more efficient way.“

 “We envision the future of 3D printing technology as a shift from ‘prototyping' to ‘industrial-scale production,' where material innovation plays a crucial role. The establishment of the joint lab is expected to reinforce the partnership between the two companies. We plan to explore open innovation models, so as to better serve customers and contribute to the development of the industry,” said Jason Ma, CEO of UnionTech.

Evonik recently launched a new product line of photopolymer for industrial 3D printing applications. Photopolymer is a common 3D printing material featuring superior mechanical performance, high precision, and fast printing speed. With this material, the production of very complex workpieces is possible, which have a much smoother structure than with other 3D materials. Typical markets include automotive and aircraft manufacturers as well as industrial parts or special shoes. It therefore has a broad prospect for development.

Founded in 2000, UnionTech is the market leader in Asia for ultra-large size industrial printers. The company develops and manufactures printers, supplies printing materials through subsidiaries and offers additive manufacturing as a service provider. In 2020, Evonik acquired a minority stake in UnionTech through its Venture Capital unit and since then the two companies have worked together in a number of additive manufacturing projects.