Among the first start-up companies to industrialize 3D printing technology for fuse manufacturing (FFF / FDM), German RepRap occupies a unique position in the field of additive manufacturing (AM).
On February 21, 2020, Antarctic Bear learned from foreign media that Arburg's controlling shareholder acquired German RepRap. Arburg is a large machine manufacturer specializing in injection molding.
The German RepRap originated from the open source RepRap movement and was founded in 2010. Unlike most companies that target desktop-grade FFF 3D printers, the target market of the German RepRap is the industrial market, focusing on high-quality components. They launched x400, which is one of the earliest large FFF 3D printers, with a molding size of 400 x 400 x 350mm. In 2014, the larger x1000 was released with a molding size of 1000 x 800 x 600 mm. By 2016, it introduced a new technology called Liquid Additive Manufacturing (LAM), which is capable of depositing materials such as liquid silicone rubber. Later, German RepRap acquired a large customer like Airbus and became a partner with Dow Chemical.
Therefore, Arburg, a large German company with its own 3D printing technology, is interested in RepRap manufacturers. Arburg, owned by the Hehl and Keinath family, was born in the consumer goods manufacturing industry after the Second World War. The company manufactured its first injection molding machine in 1954. Today, Arburg has become a strong player in the injection molding market, with an annual revenue of approximately 750 million euros and 3,000 employees worldwide. In 2013, Arburg launched the Freeformer 3D printer. Freeformer relies on a proprietary method that uses piezoelectric screws to process standard injection-molded particles and deposits a single droplet at a speed of up to 200 droplets per second, with diameters of 0.2 and 0.4 mm, depending on the nozzle size. By using particulate materials, it can be used for a wider range of inexpensive materials.
Arburg's official website lists materials ranging from ULTEM 9085 (approved and widely used in aerospace 3D printing applications) to a variety of ABS, TPU and carbon fiber. There is even a cellulose-based soluble polymer as a drug tablet, which proves the possibility of 3D printing drugs. A dialogue between RepRap and Arburg in Germany led to an acquisition. Although Reprap is now controlled by large manufacturers, it will operate as an independent company, maintaining existing employees and management.
Arburg will now be able to provide a wide range of additive manufacturing equipment outside of its Freeformer system. For example, this means that Freeformer customers who need to use silicone printing can use the German RepRap L320 LAM 3D printer. Now, the German RepRap can obtain a lot of financial resources and rich industry experience from its parent company through Arburg. Perhaps more importantly, it can reach Arburg's customer base throughout the manufacturing world. Although Freeformer has unique technology, it did not meet the expectations at the time of its initial release. After the acquisition of German Reprap, all of these can be modified and upgraded.