Projects & Trends
Recycling, bioplastics, sustainability
Our industry is expected to meet ever more stringent requirements from users and legislators alike. The best way to achieve this is by working with competent partners to explore current trends and, in the best case, set future trends ourselves. We are currently engaged in cooperation with Chemnitz University of Technology (TU Chemnitz) and BioFoN, the future network for bio-based polymers.
Strategic partnership with TU Chemnitz
Bioplastics as an alternative to conventional plastics
Together with Chemnitz University of Technology (TU Chemnitz), DG is developing new, sustainable powder materials for additive manufacturing. The strategic cooperation brings together expertise in the compounding of bioplastics (TU Chemnitz) and the production of customised powders (DG) with the aim of developing sustainable powder types that will replace conventional (fossil-based) plastic powders in the medium term. We have set ourselves the joint goal of making biopolyesters (PHAs) viable for SLS printing.
TU Chemnitz x DG
Project partner
Chemnitz University of Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Lightweight Structures and Plastics Processing section led by Professor Lothar Kroll. Research area: Biopolymers and Metal Master Composites (led by Dr Rinberg)
Sustainability – Next Generation
Our circular economy project: reconditioning powder waste for 3D printing.
In the additive manufacturing process with powder-based polymers (PBF-LB, PBF-IR), significant amounts of powder waste, especially from polyamides, are generated. Although optimized powder management can reduce this waste, it cannot be completely eliminated, which makes it a sustainability issue. Therefore, DG is currently developing methods in its R&D department to recondition this powder waste and make it reusable in the manufacturing process. If the powders can no longer be adequately reconditioned for additive manufacturing, they are to be repurposed according to the Zero Waste concept. This includes regranulating the powders for injection molding or using them as blasting powder for post-processing in additive manufacturing.
Objectives of the collaboration with Hermann Hanning: material development, product development and recycling concepts.
FLUX3D x DG
Projekt partner
FLUX3D Engineering,
Hermann Hanning
