{"id":27097,"date":"2024-11-13T07:40:52","date_gmt":"2024-11-13T06:40:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.voxeljet.de\/?p=27097"},"modified":"2025-01-27T15:58:04","modified_gmt":"2025-01-27T14:58:04","slug":"circular-economy-in-3d-printing-using-recycled-pa12-powder-reduces-operating-costs-by-up-to-50","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.voxeljet.com\/press-releases\/circular-economy-in-3d-printing-using-recycled-pa12-powder-reduces-operating-costs-by-up-to-50\/","title":{"rendered":"Circular economy in 3D printing: using recycled PA12 powder reduces operating costs by up to 50%"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;]<ol class=\"breadcrumb header-subtitle\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.voxeljet.com\/\">Home<\/a><\/li><\/ol>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; bottom_divider=&#8221;step_3_4&#8243;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky=&#8221;yes&#8221; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;color-189024&#8243; heading_semantic=&#8221;h1&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;134121&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]Circular economy marks major milestone: recycling nylon waste powder in 3D printing, addressing up to 50% of running costs[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;416089&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"vxjText2\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><em>voxeljet, Dressler Group GmbH, Fraunhofer IPA and the University of Bayreuth collaborate in re-processing of discarded PA12 powder for 3D printing via High-Speed Sintering (HSS)<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;287746&#8243;]<em>November 13th, 2024 \u2013 Friedberg near Munich, Germany \u2013 voxeljet AG, Dressler Group GmbH, and Fraunhofer IPA have announced the successful completion of a material study for waste PA12 powder from laser-based 3D printing systems. In the study, waste powder from Selective Laser Sintering systems was successfully recycled by Dressler Group and 3D printed by Fraunhofer IPA at the University of Bayreuth, using a VX200 HSS platform from voxeljet. The initial results demonstrate that reconditioned PA12 waste powder can be processed effectively using ink- and printhead-based High Speed Sintering (HSS) technology enabling sustainable and cost-efficient production. The preliminary test results indicate that the material properties are equal or may even exceed those of comparable prints with fresh powder.<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;color-176892&#8243; heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h4&#8243; text_weight=&#8221;400&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;125821&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]The Challenge: PA12 Powder Degradation in Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) Systems[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;983051&#8243;]In SLS systems, unprinted PA12 powder loses its ability to be reused due to high temperature exposure in the build area, which causes the polyamide chains to lengthen after condensation, negatively affecting powder flowability and melt viscosity. This makes the material difficult to process again via laser-based technologies, as the energy input from lasers is too short to process longer molecule chains accordingly. Therefore, comparably high powder refresh rates are necessary, accumulating waste and associated high disposal costs.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;212389&#8243;]The collaborative study aimed to reclaim this used powder by processing it through voxeljet\u2019s VX200 HSS platform. HSS technology, using an inkjet-based printhead and infrared (IR) heating, offers selective and thermally gentler energy input, allowing the polyamide to sinter gradually, enabling the reuse of this powder. This means a real tribute to circular economy in Additive Manufacturing.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;562943&#8243;]Dressler Group, experts in powder design and manufacturing, processed the used PA12 powder to homogenize and recover key powder properties such as flowability and moisture, making it suitable for reuse in HSS.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;567794&#8243;]\u201cRecycling used PA12 powder can effectively reduce costs and support sustainability efforts in AM.\u201d says Dr. Ing. Holger Leonards, Head of R&amp;D at Dressler Group. \u201cOur expertise in regenerating powder properties and handling of large powder volumes enables companies to reclaim this valuable material.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;157800&#8243;]\u201cThe VX200 HSS technology is an open-source system, allowing us to quickly change and adapt process parameters to any powder.\u201d says Jan Kemnitzer, Research Team Lead at Fraunhofer IPA and adds \u201cWe were therefore able to quickly adapt the 3D printer to the material with consistent or improved results in part properties.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;111418&#8243;]\u201cThe results of this study are especially interesting for ink and printhead based technologies such as the HSS technology. The future possibility of processing this recycled powder on production platforms like the VX1000HSS will bring immense cost savings.\u201d says Tobias Gr\u00fcn, Global Product Management at voxeljet. \u201cTypically, 50 % of the running costs are attributable to powder costs. Thus, this development provides a huge effect on cost effectiveness while boosting a circular material flow, reducing waste.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;color-176892&#8243; heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h4&#8243; text_weight=&#8221;400&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;207062&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]A Sustainable Solution for Additive Manufacturing[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;614444&#8243;]This study highlights the growing issue of excess PA12 waste powder within the additive manufacturing industry. By reclaiming this material for use in voxeljet\u2019s HSS technology, companies can reduce waste, lower operational costs, and improve sustainability in their additive manufacturing processes.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;246563&#8243;]First parts of this collaboration will be shown at the formnext trade show in Frankfurt, Germany from November 19<sup>th<\/sup> to 22<sup>nd\u00a0\u00a0 <\/sup>and can be seen at the voxeljet booth E08 or the Fraunhofer booth C71 in hall 12.1.[\/vc_column_text][vc_gallery el_id=&#8221;gallery-200084&#8243; medias=&#8221;27088,27091&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; media_items=&#8221;media|lightbox|original,icon,description&#8221; screen_lg=&#8221;1000&#8243; screen_md=&#8221;600&#8243; screen_sm=&#8221;480&#8243; single_width=&#8221;3&#8243; single_overlay_opacity=&#8221;50&#8243; single_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;557988&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; equal_height=&#8221;yes&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;0&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; back_image=&#8221;17830&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; mobile_height=&#8221;340&#8243; el_class=&#8221;top-right-triangle top-right-triangle-grey&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;544588&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; position_horizontal=&#8221;left&#8221; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; column_padding=&#8221;4&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-653726&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;458&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1587375097216{padding-top: 91px !important;padding-bottom: 75px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text_size=&#8221;h1&#8243; separator_color=&#8221;yes&#8221; separator=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;157570&#8243;]Media contact[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;299389&#8243;]<strong>Frederik von Saldern<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Tel.: +49 821 7483-447<br \/>\nMail: <a href=\"mailto:frederik.vonsaldern@voxeljet.de\">frederik.vonsaldern@voxeljet.de<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;4&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; enable_bottom_divider=&#8221;default&#8221; bottom_divider=&#8221;gradient&#8221; shape_bottom_h_use_pixel=&#8221;&#8221; shape_bottom_height=&#8221;5&#8243; shape_bottom_color=&#8221;color-142724&#8243; shape_bottom_opacity=&#8221;60&#8243; shape_bottom_index=&#8221;0&#8243;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; limit_content=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-241501&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1587023201272{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;color-176892&#8243; heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_weight=&#8221;400&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;204307&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"t-entry-title h3 title-scale\">ICP series production line in action at BMW<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;157020&#8243;]voxeljet AG and Loramendi present the world&#8217;s first fully automated additive 3D series production line for sand cores. The first Industrialisation of Core Printing (ICP) production line is installed at the BMW Group Plant Landshut.[\/vc_column_text][vc_button button_color=&#8221;color-185255&#8243; size=&#8221;btn-link&#8221; custom_typo=&#8221;yes&#8221; font_family=&#8221;font-555555&#8243; font_weight=&#8221;900&#8243; text_transform=&#8221;uppercase&#8221; letter_spacing=&#8221;fontspace-129229&#8243; icon=&#8221;fa fa-caret-right&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.voxeljet.com%2Fpress-releases%2Fvoxeljet-and-loramendi-show-icp-additive-series-production-line-in-action-at-bmw%2F|title:voxeljet%20and%20Loramendi%20show%20ICP%20additive%20series%20production%20line%20in%20action%20at%20bmw&#8221; button_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;159332&#8243;]Learn more[\/vc_button][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; back_color=&#8221;color-241501&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1588944978251{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}&#8221; el_class=&#8221;footer-teaser-column-right&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text_color=&#8221;color-176892&#8243; heading_semantic=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_size=&#8221;h3&#8243; text_weight=&#8221;400&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;137850&#8243; text_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221;]voxeljet selected by GE Research as partner for US-funded project[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;142684&#8243;]voxeljet is selected by GE Research for a $14.9 million contract to develop advanced manufacturing technologies for the U.S. energy transition.[\/vc_column_text][vc_button button_color=&#8221;color-185255&#8243; size=&#8221;btn-link&#8221; custom_typo=&#8221;yes&#8221; font_family=&#8221;font-555555&#8243; font_weight=&#8221;900&#8243; text_transform=&#8221;uppercase&#8221; letter_spacing=&#8221;fontspace-129229&#8243; icon=&#8221;fa fa-caret-right&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.voxeljet.com%2Fpress-releases%2Fvoxeljet-chosen-by-ge-research-as-partner-for-us-funded-project%2F|title:voxeljet%20chosen%20by%20ge%20research%20as%20partner%20for%20us%20funded%20project&#8221; button_color_type=&#8221;uncode-palette&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;147761&#8243;]Learn more[\/vc_button][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner]<div id=\"scroll-to-top-container\" class=\"scroll-to-top-container\">\n                    <div id=\"scroll-to-top\" class=\"scroll-to-top-button\">\n                        <span class=\"scroll-to-top-line\"><\/span>\n                        <span class=\"scroll-to-top-text\">Scroll up<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n                 <\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a joint material study, voxeljet, Dressler Group GmbH and Fraunhofer IPA successfully printed recycled PA12 powder from SLS systems using HSS.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[98],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27097","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-press-releases"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.voxeljet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27097","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.voxeljet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.voxeljet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.voxeljet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.voxeljet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27097"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.voxeljet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27097\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27102,"href":"https:\/\/www.voxeljet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27097\/revisions\/27102"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.voxeljet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27097"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.voxeljet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27097"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.voxeljet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27097"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}