Asahi Kasei to Expand to the 3D Printing Market in North America Through Filament Sales

Asahi Kasei has started sales for 3D printing (3DP) filaments in North America through Asahi Kasei Plastics North America, Inc. (APNA). The soft launch will begin with filaments from the modified polyphenylene ether (mPPE) resin product line, XYRON™, then expand to the Thermylene™ polypropylene (PP) group.

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Asahi Kasei's filament business and design and simulation support services for 3D printing (Graphic: Business Wire)

“Asahi Kasei has a proven history of being a resin and compounding technology leader,” states Todd Glogovsky, President and Chief Operating Officer at APNA. “3D printing is a rapidly growing field, and we have the people and skillset to develop, enhance, and exceed the needs of hobbyists and OEMs alike.”

APNA plans to advance two business initiatives targeted at the 3DP sector to show customers versatility and long-term commitment. The first goal is to deliver success through filament sales in the North American market and then expand globally. This will be started through trialing XYRON™, which features properties such as printability (lower warpage, high dimensional stability), heat resistance, electrical insulation and impact strength. After XYRON™, the next filament launch will use Thermylene®, providing high tensile strength, chemical resistance, creep resistance, and elevated temperature performance. The second goal will be focused on customer support with advanced resources through computer-aided engineering (CAE).

“This is a great opportunity to grow the usage of our award-winning product portfolio for new markets and application spaces,” states Nihir Bhuva, Strategic Business Director for APNA. “Besides having industry expertise, we plan to provide our partners with design and simulation services through CAE. This will help show our commitment to growth from proof-of-concept to the execution stage.”

Asahi Kasei already provides comprehensive support for designing and developing customer products using CAE technical services for engineering plastics products. APNA's well-established CAE services have now been comfortably expanded to 3DP to provide additional support for filament products and their usage. Asahi Kasei Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) invested in CASTOR Technologies Ltd., an Israeli startup specializing in 3DP technologies, to expand CAE offerings in May 2023. Through this investment, Asahi Kasei is developing a unique 3D printing software that allows the organization to tailor their approach to the specific needs of consumers. With CASTOR, Asahi Kasei is conducting proof-of-concept techniques to expand services, including automation of advanced simulations.

“We will continue providing superior quality and reliability to customers, and with CASTOR, we will drive more excellence through our CAE services,” states Glogovsky. “This is an exciting time to dive into a new industry and show why we are industry leaders through the success of our partnerships.”

About Asahi Kasei Plastics North America, Inc. (APNA)

Asahi Kasei Plastics North America, Inc. (“APNA”) is a leading manufacturer of innovative, high-performance, engineered polymers and chemically coupled polypropylene resins in North America. The product line includes Xyron (modified polyphenylene ether), Thermylene (specialty chemically coupled polypropylene), Leona (nylon 6/6, 6/6+6i), Tenac (homopolymer and copolymer acetal), Thermylon (nylon 6, 6/6), and Asaclean (purging compounds and concentrates). APNA currently has four locations in North America and over 350 employees. For more information, visit www.akplastics.com.

About Asahi Kasei

The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its foundation in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber businesses, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 48,000 employees worldwide, the company contributes to a sustainable society by providing solutions to the world's challenges through its three business sectors of Material, Homes, and Health Care. Its Material sector, comprised of Environmental Solutions, Mobility & Industrial, and Life Innovation, includes a wide array of products, from battery separators and biodegradable textiles to engineering plastics and sound solutions. For more information, visit www.asahi-kasei.com.

Asahi Kasei is also dedicated to sustainability initiatives and is contributing to reaching a carbon-neutral society by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/sustainability/.

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