Ultimaker, the global leader in desktop 3D printing, today announced at TCT ASIA in Shanghai, China that Essentium, eSUN, and Polymaker have joined the Ultimaker Material Alliance Program. Their commitment further expands the choice of materials and applications for FFF 3D printing in a wide variety of industries.

China is known to have the largest electronics market in the world. In order for engineers in this industry to benefit from FFF 3D printing, materials need to be ESD safe so that they are suitable for electronics manufacturing. By making print profiles in the Ultimaker Marketplace available with these properties, engineers and designers in the electronics industry can benefit immediately from the ease of use of desktop 3D printing. Dr. Blake Teipel, CEO Essentium: “At Essentium we are committed to creating industrial solutions for the world’s top manufacturers and bridging the gap between 3D printing and machining. We have partnered with BASF, the world’s largest chemical producer, to create the Ultrafuse-Z line, which is a series of ESD safe filaments that are powered by Essentium. We offer material print profiles for Ultrafuse-Z PCTG in the Ultimaker Marketplace, an industrial grade filament that is specifically formulated to be ESD safe.”

Recycling is a topic prioritized in many calendars worldwide. Dr. Yihu Yang, CEO eSUN: “We are specialized in the industrialization of biodegradable polymers. We are delighted to join the Ultimaker Materials Alliance Program with material print profiles of PETG, ePA-CF, and HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene), since it allows us to speed up the development of eco-friendly 3D printed products by using renewable resources.”

Dr. Xiaofan Luo, President, Polymaker: "FFF 3D printing remains the most practical and accessible of all 3D printing technologies. The three materials we offer via the Ultimaker Marketplace, including PolyMide™ PA6-CF, PolyMide™ CoPA and PolyCast™, are among the most unique and advanced materials in our portfolio. I believe they will open up countless new applications for a greater number of engineers."

Jos Burger, CEO at Ultimaker: “The growing importance of 3D printing gives us – as a leader in desktop 3D printing – an important role in ensuring a perfect collaboration between hardware, software and materials. By offering material profiles directly to millions of end users via the Ultimaker Marketplace, we unlock new 3D printing applications for different industries. Essentium, eSUN, and Polymaker and are well-respected material companies, offering unique material properties that are relevant for engineers working in a wide range of industries. I am proud to recognize their commitment to the Ultimaker Material Alliance during TCT ASIA.“