AMAREA Technology GmbH was founded just two years ago as a spin-off of Fraunhofer IKTS and is now commercializing the Multi Material Jetting (MMJ) technology developed at IKTS. The new MMJ ProX series multi-material 3D printer from AMAREA enables the simultaneous printing of up to six different materials within a single component. This makes it possible to manufacture both miniaturized and large-scale complex components with tailor-made combinations of properties that were previously unachievable or required significant additional effort. It opens up innovation potential for applications in aerospace, electronics, mechanical engineering, energy and medical technology, as well as in additive manufacturing for the jewelry and watchmaking industries.

MMJ technology uses particle-filled, thermoplastic printing materials that are precisely deposited drop by drop, layer by layer, to create highly complex, functionalized components and assemblies. The droplets are placed and fused only where material is needed – this saves material and reduces post-processing steps. Dr. Uwe Scheithauer, Group Manager Additive and Hybrid Manufacturing at Fraunhofer IKTS, emphasizes: “We can offer our customers highly flexible and particularly resource-efficient manufacturing processes for multi-materials, as we work without tools and significantly reduce waste.”

The manufacturing system is modular and, like the thermoplastic printing materials, is optimally tailored to customer requirements. This allows precise adjustments of mechanical properties (hardness and flexibility), functional characteristics (electrical conductivity vs. insulation), thermal properties, and chemical resistance of the components. Different aesthetic and haptic properties can also be combined.

With the delivery of the MMJ ProX printer to Fraunhofer IKTS, AMAREA Technology has reached another milestone in the commercialization of Multi Material Jetting (MMJ) technology. The partners convincingly demonstrate how applied research can be turned into market-ready high technology. “We are delighted that Fraunhofer IKTS is one of the first customers to use our system for the development of innovative products, thereby helping to expand the market for multi-material applications,” says Steven Weingarten, developer of the MMJ technology and co-managing partner of AMAREA Technology GmbH.

With the new printer, the IKTS team is now testing the extended manufacturing possibilities for complex ceramic multi-material components and aims to open up further fields of application for ceramic 3D printing.