German chemical producer Evonik (Essen; www.evonik.com) and US technology giant Hewlett Packard (HP, Palo Alto, California; www.hp.com) are intensifying their cooperation in the development of plastic powders for 3D printing. Evonik’s “Vestosint” 3D Z2773 will be placed on Hewlett Packard’s “Open Platform Program”.

The PA 12 powder offers improved mechanical properties and is FDA compliant, as components printed using Vestosint can be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for food contact. This enables the use of additive manufacturing technologies in food production equipment components that require flexibility due to limited quantities or complex designs, the companies said.

Matthias Kottenhahn, head of the high performance polymers business line of Evonik, said: “Through the close partnership with HP and our active participation in the open platform program we anticipate further impetus in the development of new plastic powders for 3D printing use.”

Evonik recently began construction of its Vestosint PA 12 powder plant to be built at Marl / Germany – see Plasteurope.com of 16.09.2016. The company is demonstrating the material at the “K 2016” trade fair, which is taking place in Düsseldorf / Germany until 26 October.