The shopping and expansion session post-SPAC do not seem to end with Desktop Metal. Right after the photopolymeric 3D printing leader EnvisionTEC and after the launch of the Forust service which is a sustainable wood 3D printed product, the Adaptive 3D is now taken over by Ric Fulop’s company, who is the leading provider of elastomeric solutions required for additive manufacturing.
There is a further build with this latest deal on the EnvisionTEC acquisition, which can challenge Carbon and Stratasys (Origin) for the great speed photopolymerization production market.
Fulop who is the Founder and CEO of Desktop Metal has said, “The acquisition of Adaptive3D advances Desktop Metal’s vertical integration strategy to grow our portfolio of materials and expand the high-volume applications supported by our polymer additive manufacturing solutions,” he also added saying “Elastomers and rubber materials are a killer app for Additive Manufacturing 2.0. Adaptive3D has the best photoelastomer resins in the world. Combining Adaptive3D’s patented and superior elastomer materials with our printers, such as the Xtreme 8K, which lead the industry in throughput, affordability, and part quality, will accelerate the adoption of additively manufactured solutions for high-volume, end-use elastomeric parts and products.”
After, Adaptive3D can now offer category-leading photopolymer elastomers right after securing investments from Arkema and from DSM (which is currently Covestro) and Applied Materials when it was in startup mode. The products allow volume end-use parts production through additive manufacturing of odorless, tough, strain-tolerant, tear-resistant, and biocompatible rubbers and also materials which act like rubber. Elastic ToughRubber 90 is the company’s flagship resin which is a tough, printable elastomer which can be used for all seasons.
For high-throughput manufacturing of functional, complex 3D plastic and rubber parts in consumer, healthcare, industrial, transportation, and oil and gas markets adaptive 3D printable materials are optimized accordingly. It is through Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) funding that the Adaptive 3D’s core technology has been developed.
Dr Walter Voit, who is the Founder and CEO of Adaptive 3D has said, “We are thrilled to partner with Desktop Metal to enable additive manufacturing through our differentiated materials,”. He also added saying, “This acquisition extends our already strong partnership with EnvisionTEC, enabling us to accelerate our growth into the $129 billion1 elastomer and flexible foams market just waiting for high-volume, additive manufacturing elastomer capabilities.”
Photoelastomers which is provided by the adaptive3D allows the additive manufacturing of rubbers, polyurethane-like, silicone-like, and rubber-like materials. ToughRubber photoresin material properties and their material family can help the industry deal with tear strength, toughness, and elongation. The designing of Adaptive3D’s solutions are done keeping in mind high-throughput manufacturing while at the same time maintaining a low cost of production, and superior material performance.
With a great opportunity to expand by leveraging Desktop Metal’s scale and channel network the company has been able to serve a broad customer base across consumer, healthcare, industrial, transportation, and oil and gas markets. With the acquisition now Adaptive3D’s existing partnership to pair ToughRubber photoresins with EnvisionTEC’s Xtreme 8K has been extended.
For area-wide photopolymer printing the Xtreme 8K printer is optimized. The Xtreme 8K is the largest build area production-grade digital light processing (DLP) 3D printer all across world. Now with Customers can now produce tough, durable parts quickly and in greater volume with premium surface quality, robust material properties, and high part accuracy with the help of Adaptive 3D’s photoelastomer resins.
Fulop has said, “This transaction advances Desktop Metal’s strategy to grow our proprietary materials portfolio in order to expand the high-volume applications we can provide our customers,”. He also added saying, “We will continue to search for attractive opportunities to organically and inorganically add to our library of over 225 qualified materials across metals, composites, polymers, ceramics, biocompatible materials, wood, and now elastomers.”
As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Desktop Metal is how Adaptive 3D will operate. Whereas, Voit will continue to lead the business from its Plano, Texas headquarters.