Chemicals and plastics producer Huntsman (The Woodlands, Texas / USA; www.huntsman.com) has developed urethane-based additive manufacturing materials. The “Iroprint” range contains three different kinds of urethane-based resins, powders and filaments that can be 3D printed using methods such as stereolithography (SLA), high speed sintering (HSS) and fused filament fabrication (FFF).

Huntsman’s new materials will initially be targeted to the footwear and sports industry, with additional applications planned longer term. The current Iroprint additive manufacturing platform consists of Iroprint R resins for SLA, digital light processing (DLP) and other radiation-curing methods, Iroprint P powders for HSS printing and Iroprint F filaments for FFF and other extrusion-based printing techniques.

The shoe industry is also a focus for BASF (Ludwigshafen / Germany; www.basf.com). The plastics producer recently announced updates and openings for three footwear development centres – see Plasteurope.com of 08.07.2019.