Andrew Dickson, Infraprint
3DPrint with the power of the sun.
What problem are you solving and what is innovative about your approach?
The world is adopting 3Dprinting technology at a staggering rate, with a record 2 million 3Dprinting machines shipped worldwide in 2021. They can reduce materials waste, energy consumption, shipping and labour costs, and can produce ever more complex and customised parts. From medical implants to aircraft engine parts, 3Dprinting is defining the next industrial revolution.
Despite this major growth, there are still major engineering challenges to using 3D printed parts. The primary challenge is that 3D printed parts are significantly weaker than parts made using conventional moulding methods. This means parts are more likely to fail in service, relegating them to use in “non-critical” areas.
Infraprint’s patent pending TRAAM (Thermal Radiation Assisted Additive Manufacturing” technology is capable of printing parts almost twice the strength of existing industrial systems. This digital technology is leading the way to a stronger, more sustainable and energy efficient production process for small batch components, from the high temperature super polymers of Aerospace to the biocompatible and sterilisable polymers of the pharmaceutical and medical sectors. Infraprint can use any thermoplastic material and print complex parts with the strength to get the job done. Enabling true industrial 3D printing.
How is this idea commercially attractive?
Industrial 3Dprinting systems cost 100s of thousands of euro, can be the size of a car, and use excessive amounts of energy, limiting their use to only the most high value of products. Infraprint offers not only a lower price point system and with lower upkeep costs, but also produces polymer parts that are significantly stronger than the competition. Infraprint’s system is also up to 3x more energy efficient, but is also desktop sized. Allowing you to produce engineering grade parts almost anywhere. Essentially making it a factory in a box.
Infraprint has already conducted successful trials in the aerospace, UAV and medical sectors, with many more applications yet to be explored. With the world market for 3Dprinting systems reaching almost $6.3 Billion dollars in 2021, and a CAGR of nearly 21%, this technology is set to fundamentally disrupt the world of manufacturing.
What do you hope to achieve by participating in Big Ideas?
Big Ideas is our first public reveal and we are excited to find new partners to adopt and demonstrate our technology in all sectors. There has never been a better time to join this incredible technological revolution, with Infraprint leading the way.
