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BCN3D has introduced it has carved out its Viscous Lithography Manufacturing (VLM) enterprise unit into Supernova.
Supernova was integrated in This autumn 2023 and with have headquarters in Austin, Texas and Barcelona, Spain. The brand new firm is not going to function at a subsidiary of BCN3D, however as an impartial entity with no additional bonds between the 2 firms.
VLM is a lithography-based additive manufacturing course of that laminates skinny layers of high-viscosity resins onto a clear switch movie previous to the resin being photopolymerised right into a 3D printed object. With this expertise, Supernova says resins which can be 100 instances extra viscous than these utilized in DLP, SLA and MSLA processes could be processed, probably unlocking ‘an unparalleled vary of properties’ which can be nearer to thermoplastics than customary thermosets. The corporate additionally says that VLM can deal with silicones, epoxies and stuffed supplies in addition to acrylates.
The VLM course of was launched by BCN3D in March 2022, with the corporate asserting a Know-how Adoption Program that may search to put in as much as 20 VLM machines with beta customers three months later. Since, it has been revealed that Dyndrite software program will assist the VLM 3D printing programs, however there had in any other case been no additional updates. That was till January 2024, when the corporate referred to as a digital press briefing to announce that VLM would now transfer ahead as an impartial enterprise unit. The first cause for this carve out, BCN3D says, is to supply VLM with an impartial setting through which to flourish.
Supernova has confirmed its enterprise mannequin will depend on machine gross sales, with greater than 500 firms signed as much as its Know-how Adoptions Program. Key partnerships with Puma, Saint Gobin, Orbea, Hutchinson and Prodrive have been established, whereas supplies partnerships with Arkema, ALTANA, Elkem, Henkel and Rahn are additionally in place. There was no date given for when the expertise can be totally commercialised, however Supernova has confirmed the primary beta programs can be put in in 2024. Whereas these machines are delivered to beta customers and purposes are developed for key vertical markets, the corporate will place its concentrate on supplies improvement and the industrialisation of its product ecosystem for 2024.
Roger Antunez, who beforehand served because the Basic Supervisor of BCN3D since 2019, will lead Supernova as CEO, with Marta Mico, previously the VLM Head of Enterprise Improvement at BCN3D, becoming a member of him as co-founder. Eric Pallares, the previous CTO of BCN3D, will now serves as Distinguished Technologist on the new firm, however the remainder of the BCN3D staff will stay in place. BCN3D Gross sales Director Pol Domenech has stepped up as the brand new Basic Supervisor.
With Supernova carved out, BCN3D will proceed underneath the management of CEO Xavi M. Faneca. Its focus will stay on its core enterprise of extrusion-based applied sciences, with goals to develop its IDEX section created in 2016. Particularly, BCN3D will work to develop its industrial providing with merchandise like Omega I60, which options IDEX expertise, an actively heated printed chamber, and an structure designed to facilitate high-speed 3D printing.
