BASF, DSM and Arkema acquire SLS 3D printers from Prodways

France-based 3D printing company Prodways Group is reinforcing its ties to leading materials developers in the additive and industrial chemical sectors. The company announced this week that it has sold multiple selective laser sintering 3D printers to chemical companies BASF and DSM, as well as delivered a ProMaker P1000 system to leading French chemical company, Arkema.

With an increased selective laser sintering capacity, the three chemical companies—which we know have been making drastic inroads into the additive industry’s polymer materials market—will be able to accelerate their development of advanced materials for 3D printing. With Prodways’ SLS systems in house, BASF, DSM and Arkema will also be able to benefit from Prodways’ expertise in polymer part production.

Both BASF and DSM are long time partners of Prodways, acting as important material suppliers to the 3D printing company. The sale of multiple selective laser sintering systems to them deepens this existing partnership.

On a broader scale, the adoption of additional 3D printing technologies by these chemical giants shows their continued and growing commitment to the additive manufacturing industry. Looking at the sector today, it’s clear that polymer AM is growing in importance at an industrial level—and high performance materials are playing a big part of that.

BASF, DSM and Arkema have showcased their investment in additive technologies in a number of ways this past year, through many material development partnerships. In one of the most significant announcements of its year, BASF revealed that it had acquired French 3D printing service Sculpteo. DSM, for its part, has offered important financial backing through its investment arm DSM Ventures to companies like Inkbit, AMT and Adaptive3D.

[Update on January 16: Prodways reveals Arkema is the third chemical company, article changed to reflect this]