Wacker to premiere 3D printing with silicones at K show

Dusseldorf, Germany – Wacker AG will showcase “the first industrial 3D printer for silicones” during the German rubber and plastics K Show, to be held 19-26 Oct in Dusseldorf.

The device – called ACEO Imagine Series K – will be printing live at the booth throughout the tradeshow.

According to Wacker, this is the first time a “mature 3D printing technology” has been developed for silicones.

To develop the “first real elastomer” for 3D printing, Wacker said it had put together experts on materials, software and hardware. This, it said, would be a significant development in the additive manufacturing industry.

Wacker anticipates the new device to be used in the health care, automotive and electronics industries.

The ACEO Imagine printers work with a drop-on-demand process where single voxels, or tiny droplets are dosed according to the printing instructions.

“Prototypes, small series or individualised products can be manufactured quickly and efficiently,” added Wacker.