Stratasys and BASF Collaborate on Innovative Polypropylene Material for SAF Technology

On 20 June 2024, Stratasys Ltd. unveiled its revolutionary new SAF™ Polypropylene (PP) material, now commercially accessible for deployment on the Stratasys H350™ printer, scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of 2024. The material will be showcased at the Stratasys booth during the upcoming RAPID + TCT Expo in Los Angeles, CA, from June 25 to 27.

Stratasys SAF™ PP, developed in collaboration with BASF Forward AM, aims to deliver enhanced cost efficiency and superior part quality in Powder Bed Fusion technologies. This advanced material offers reduced per-part costs and excellent surface aesthetics compared to current options, catering to the rigorous requirements of high-volume production while ensuring exceptional overall quality.

Neil Hopkinson, Vice President of Additive Manufacturing Technology at Stratasys, highlighted SAF PP's exceptional nesting capabilities and rapid turnaround time of under 36 hours. This capability enables customers to manufacture hundreds of parts in a single build, significantly enhancing productivity and cost efficiency while ensuring high-quality parts at a reduced cost.

SAF PP is designed to meet the needs of multiple industries including automotive, medical, consumer sports, and industrial sectors. It offers durability, chemical resistance, and flexibility for automotive components such as housings and ducting, as well as for orthotic devices and consumer sports gear like shin guards. Its lightweight properties, along with water and air tightness, make it an excellent option for manufacturing intricate, high-quality parts across a wide range of applications.

The new material has proven effective in producing strong, defect-free parts with complex geometries, including flexible tight pipes and intricate sensor mounts.

Philipp Götz, CEO of Götz Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG, a beta customer of SAF™ PP, stated, "The surface finish of SAF™ PP parts is unmatched. The fine detail resolution and consistent appearance are vastly superior to any other PBF printed PP we have encountered, greatly enhancing the visual appeal of our final products."

Jennifer Govea, Application Engineer at Sun Digital, remarked, "The consistent quality of SAF™ PP is outstanding. Its airtight and watertight properties guarantee dependable performance across a range of applications. With SAF PP, we can extend the numerous benefits of additive manufacturing to countless applications currently using PP in traditional manufacturing."

Martin Back, CEO of BASF Forward AM, stated, "We are excited to partner with Stratasys in developing this new polypropylene material, optimized for their SAF 3D printing technology. This collaboration highlights our dedication to delivering strong additive manufacturing solutions designed to meet the needs of industrial manufacturers. Together, we strive to expand the adoption of AM technologies to enhance our customers' success."