Chemical company BASF launching new subsidiary, BASF 3D Printing Solutions, to explore new business opportunities in additive manufacturing.

German chemical company BASF has announced a grand plan to explore new business opportunities in the 3D printing industry. They will be establishing a new group company, BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH, which will commence operations on 1 September 2017.

The new company will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of BASF New Business GmbH, and will be headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany at the site of InnovationLab GmbH. The primary focus is establishing and expanding the business with materials, system solutions, components and services in the field of 3D printing.

Volker Hammes is the Managing Director at BASF New Business and future Managing Director of BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH. Explaining the reason for founding the new company:

“The field of 3D printing for industrial applications is highly dynamic and still emerging. This means there is a need for agile, startup-like structures with interdisciplinary teams and quick decision-making processes. Combining the customer-focused 3D printing activities in one location at a dedicated business is an important success factor.”

In the chemical industry, BASF has perhaps the biggest product portfolio of materials to develop for 3D printing. One example application are airless tires which were created with 3D printing technologies using thermoplastic polyurethane from BASF.

BASF 3D Printing Solutions Aimed at Industrial Applications

The new company’s customers will mainly be firms that want to use 3D printing for industrial production. Typical industries will include — for example — automotive, aerospace and consumer goods.

The company will also work closely with researchers and application engineers from BASF and external partners, such as universities and potential customers. This is to develop the right solutions for a broad range of additive manufacturing applications.

In order to be able to develop and test a variety of solutions, BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH will take over and expand the 3D printing application technology center in Heidelberg belonging to Deutsche Nanoschicht GmbH, a subsidiary of BASF New Business.

The new company will initially employ around 30 experts. Many of whom were already working for BASF in the field of 3D printing. Exciting times!

Source: Press Release