3D Minerals is a French company founded in 2019 which produces ceramic 3d printers with an innovative and patented micro extrusion technology: Slurry Deposition Modeling. This innovation allows the 3D printing of large parts without stopping the printing process. Moreover, with this process, the company has a simple and fast preparation of the extruded ceramic paste.
3D Minerals can print traditional or technical ceramics.
Interview with Claude Schneider, CEO of 3D Minerals.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Claude Schneider: Our main area of activity is the development and commercialization of ceramic 3D printers equipped with our technology (Slurry. Deposition. Modeling). Moreover, we have expertise in materials processing. In fact, to print customers’ prototype parts, we need to find the right combination between additive and raw material!
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
C.S: In terms of new products, we can now equip our S.D.M technology on a specific robotic arm. This robot has 6 rotation axes and a rotary table can be added to provide a seventh axis. This innovation allows the 3D printing of large parts and small series!
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
C.S: Our range of printers is composed of 3 machines:
- The Cartesian 3D Printer, perfect for prototyping and print technical ceramics.
- The 3D printer with rotary table, ideal to print round parts (like jars for example)
- The Robotic ceramic 3D Printer, perfect to print large parts and small series
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
C.S: The ceramic 3D printing market is in a mature phase. With the different possible technologies (Extrusion, SLA, DLP…) it is clear that in about ten years many industries will adopt ceramic 3D printing.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
C.S: The market is currently experiencing a sharp slowdown. Indeed, the cost of raw materials and in particular the increase in the price of gas and electricity affects our customers.
The technical ceramics market is less impacted by energy price.
This market is growing rapidly, with new applications opening up for us!
Our technology gives competitive advantage to our customers.
E.E: What estimations do you have for the rest of 2022?
C.S: At our previous show (Ceramitec) we made a lot of connections, we hope that Formnext will bring us the same opportunity!
