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HP announces 3D printing partnership with CEA for industrial and materials R&D

Electronic goods and 3D printer manufacturer HP has announced a global 3D printing partnership with France’s Alternative and Atomic Energies Commission, le Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA).

The French public body will be using HP’s Jet Fusion 3D printing system to conduct R&D on the production and end-use applications of 3D printed parts, as well as the development of materials for HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing technology.

The partnership was announced at the “Companies of the Future” conference in Lyon.

HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printers at the 3D Manufacturing Center in Carlsbad, CA. Photo via Forecast 3D
HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printers at the 3D Manufacturing Center in Carlsbad, CA. Photo via Forecast 3D.

The CEA and 3D printing

The CEA is a research institute involved in security, nuclear energy, renewables, industrial technology and life sciences, with nine centers across France.

The CEA conducts research with a range of companies and academic institutions, and from 2014 to 2016 had a materials development partnership with Groupe Gorgé, parent company 3D printer manufacturer Prodways.

The institute was also involved in the testing and certification of the Zimple air purification system for 3D printers, which debuted on Kickstarter last year.

The CEA’s partnership with HP in researching industrial applications

The partnership with HP will see the CEA conducting research into current and future industrial applications of 3D printed parts, cost savings in part production, and improved methods of post-processing.

Commenting on the partnership, Pascale Dumas, President of HP France said that,

“Our objective is to create a gateway between the scientific world and the world and industrial production to create the business of the future.”

CEA Director Florence Lambert added, “with CEA’s mission to improve the competitiveness of companies through product performance and differentiation, and with HP’s commitment to making the digital transformation of manufacturing a reality, together we are working to prepare companies of all sizes around the world for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

VR research also takes place at the CEA. Photo via D.Morel/CEA.
VR research also takes place at the CEA. Photo via D.Morel/CEA.

The CEA’s partnership with HP in materials research

A more long-term goal in the partnership between HP and CEA is materials development using the HP Open materials Platform, which certifies partners for collaboration in materials development and information.

Speaking at the “Companies of the Future” event, Pierre-Victor Sabatier, director of the 3D printing at HP France told Le Monde Electronique that “HP will provide a machine to the research organization and the two entities will invest capital and personnel together in improving Multi Jet Fusion technology.”

Sabatier also revealed that “the research will be based in Grenoble and will not aim to invent new products but to meet the specific needs of industrialists.”

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Featured image shows a spectrometer with crystal analyzers at the CEA center in Grenoble, where the HP R&D will take place. Photo via D.Morel/CEA.