The high-performance polymer market and the applications enabled by materials such as PEKK and polycarbonate have been dealt a blow by the news that KIMYA is ceasing filament production.
According to sources familiar with the company, the company is withdrawing from the 3D printing market and will stop supplying high performance filament
KIMYA is the additive manufacturing materials subsidiary of the ARMOR Group and has been actively expanding its product offerings within the industry. Notably, companies including Stratasys, Ultimaker, and AON3D used KIMYA materials primarily because of the rigorous quality controls and reliability of the filament produced.
The company was also involved in producing high-performance materials for specialized industries. For instance, KIMYA developed a custom PEKK filament to 3D print spare parts for the railway sector, demonstrating its capability to meet stringent industry standards and deliver tailored solutions.
The driving factor behind the decision to follow companies such as BASF who saw Forward AM go it’s separate way, is believed to have been influenced by the relatively low installed base of 3D printers capable of running high-performance materials coupled with a slower progression of production applications.
The market segment of companies building 3D printers that can run more demanding polymers is increasing. However, some feel that a skills gap is preventing the wider use of these materials, particularly the combination of material science and engineering knowledge that can be required to work profitability with these higher-priced materials.
One solution to growing the market could be through improved software, such as the hybrid machine learning approach taken by AON3D’s Basis Software which lowers the skill level needed to operate the 3D printer, and aims to “fix mistakes is before you make them”.
No official statement has yet been released by KIMYA, we will update this article with additional details once they become available.
UPDATE 24/11/24
Writing on LinkedIn, Hubert de Boisredon, President and director general of the ARMOR Group has posted a statement. This is translated from the original French below:
“The end of Kimya’s 3D additive manufacturing business…
I usually like to announce good news, such as the recent investment in Armor Battery Films’ new plant. But today it is with regret that we have announced the closure of our KIMYA filament production and 3D additive manufacturing business, which we enthusiastically launched in 2017.
ARMOR GROUP had invested around €15 million in this new activity, which looked promising at the time, with 30 to 40% growth expected in this industrial segment. Unfortunately, growth in this market has been much weaker than expected, and it has been hard hit by the economic crisis, with sales volumes of new machines falling, leaving no prospect of significant improvement in the medium term. Market leaders such as Stratasys are also suffering, and have recently announced major redundancy plans.
A total of 15 people are affected. We will support them as best we can, in line with our values, to enable them to find new opportunities internally or externally.
Does this latest ordeal, which follows the closure of our ASCA flexible photovoltaic film business, discourage us from continuing to innovate and undertake new projects? No, on the contrary, these setbacks make us stronger, more realistic and more determined to invest in industrial activities that are useful to society.
I’d like to thank the KIMYA teams, who, led by Benoit Stoeux, did a remarkable job in an adverse market and fought to the end, as well as the customers and suppliers who supported us in this adventure.”
Featured image shows close up of Kimya’s PEKK filament next to 3D printed PEKK object. Photo via 3DGence.
