At this year’s Formnext, Airtech, the advanced industrial materials developer, showcased two major technology demonstrations – highlighting how advanced thermoplastic composites and large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) are accelerating real industrial production.
A new high-performance speaker enclosure, engineered for recording studios, mastering environments, and club installations, demonstrated the capabilities of LFAM for acoustically demanding applications.
The enclosure was produced on CEAD’s Hybrid Flexcube equipped with the S25 extruder, using Dahltram T-100GF, a 30% glass-fiber-reinforced engineered thermoplastic that provides stiffness, stability, and excellent vibration control. The complex curved geometry improves sound directionality while maintaining a compact, efficient form factor.
LFAM enabled rapid iteration, precision, and reduced tooling time, with the enclosure printed as a near-net-shape structure ready for finishing.
The enclosure was produced using Dahltram T-100GF, a 30% glass-fiber–reinforced thermoplastic, printed in 6 hours with a 1.5 mm layer height through a 4 mm nozzle, resulting in a finished part weighing 17 kg.
KraussMaffei’s PowerPrint Flex system produced two carbon-fiber-reinforced polycarbonate rear diffuser components for a sports car using Dahltram C-237CF, completing both parts in under nine hours.
The system’s high-output deposition and precise motion control enabled the production of large, thin-walled structures without the need for traditional tooling. After printing, the parts require only trimming before use.
Dahltram C-237CF delivers high stiffness, dimensional stability, and long-term durability. With a recommended use temperature of 135°C (280°F) and inherent UV stability, the material supports demanding applications in automotive and white-goods production where strength and lightweight performance are essential.
Both collaborations demonstrate the versatility and performance of Airtech’s Dahltram engineered thermoplastics across functional, production-grade applications – showing how LFAM can reduce lead times, eliminate tooling, and deliver high-performance composite components at scale.
