Innovative industrial solution enables manufacturers to reduce carbon footprint by up to 89 percent, improves cost and efficiency
Stratasys (NASDAQ: SSYS) announced today the launch of SAF ReLifeTM, an innovative software-based solution that transforms waste PA12 powder from other additive manufacturing (AM) technologies into high-quality parts.
The SAF ReLife solution can efficiently repurpose waste PA12 powder from powder bed fusion printers, including high-speed sintering, SLS (selective laser sintering) and jetting build processes for use within the Stratasys H350 printer. This sustainable solution helps customers produce high-quality surface finished parts with powder that otherwise considered waste. This new technology can significantly lower the cost-per part for customers; improve their material efficiency; and reduce their overall carbon footprint per build.
"SAF ReLife gives customers a unique ability to make high-quality parts with powder considered waste from other polymer powder bed fusion processes,” said Neil Hopkinson, Vice President, Additive Manufacturing Technology, Stratasys. “Our patented unidirectional print-and-fuse architecture and thermal control uniquely enable this capability at production volumes."
Wehl Green, a leading service bureau, beta tested SAF ReLife by utilizing their SLS waste to their SAF ReLife. The company reported significant savings of 20 percent in total cost per part and a substantial reduction in waste by turning unused powder into functional parts through a repeatable process using SAF technology. In addition, Wehl Green has been able to turn around new parts and have them delivered within 48 hours for customers, helping them meet demand.
"By utilizing the SAF ReLife technology, we’ve cut production costs while producing parts that meet strict industrial specifications. It’s a game-changer for our competitiveness,” said Javier García, Manager and Co-founder, Wehl Green. “Thanks to Stratasys’ SAF ReLife project, we’ve been able to turn PA12 waste into high-quality parts. This circular economy approach has reduced our environmental impact while maintaining top-tier product standards.”
SAF ReLife is a breakthrough in making additive manufacturing more sustainable, and eco-friendly by addressing a common challenge of what to do with aged powder. To determine the environmental impact, Stratasys partnered with Fraunhofer IPA to conduct a third-party Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to validate the environmental benefits of SAF ReLife. The study revealed that repurposing PA12 waste from powder bed print processes in SAF production can reduce carbon footprint up to 89%, compared to standard production with polyamide 12 material.
"Our life cycle assessment demonstrates that Stratasys' SAF ReLife PA12 solution can reduce the carbon footprint of the reference print job by 43% with the German electricity mix and by as much as 89% when powered by renewable energy sources, compared to standard PA12," said Chantal Rietdorf, M.Sc., Research Associate at Fraunhofer.
For more information on SAF ReLife, visit www.stratasys.com or visit the Stratasys booth at Formnext 2024 in Hall 12.1 | booth D12.
* Research Data and assumptions:
- The system boundaries were defined as cradle-to-gate, with the functional unit specified as one reference print job*.
- Energy consumption measurements were taken at the Fraunhofer IPA for the reference print job.
- Material consumption data was obtained from the build report. For the standard PA12 a new powder share of 30% was assumed and for ReLife PA12 a share of 100%.
- The background data modeling for HAF and energy consumption utilized the Ecoinvent 3.9 database.
- The emission factor for standard PA12 was sourced from the literature, while the environmental impacts of SAF ReLife PA12 were accounted as zero, as it is a byproduct of another process (London, Michael B. (2020): Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Assessment of Multi-Jet Fusion 3D Printing. Master’s Thesis, University of Michigan, Michigan).
- The greenhouse gas emissions were calculated using the GWP100 IPCC2013 impact assessment method.
About Stratasys
Stratasys is advancing the shift to additive manufacturing with innovative 3D printing solutions for industries such as aerospace, automotive, consumer products, and healthcare. Through smart and connected 3D printers, polymer materials, a software ecosystem, and parts on demand, Stratasys solutions deliver competitive advantages at every stage of the product value chain. The world’s leading organizations turn to Stratasys to transform product design, bring agility to manufacturing and supply chains, and improve patient care.
To learn more about Stratasys, visit www.stratasys.com, the Stratasys blog, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook. Stratasys reserves the right to utilize any of the foregoing social media platforms, including Stratasys’ websites, to share material, non-public information pursuant to the SEC’s Regulation FD. To the extent necessary and mandated by applicable law, Stratasys will also include such information in its public disclosure filings.
Stratasys, SAF, ReLife, and H350 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Stratasys Ltd. and/or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statement
The statements in this press release relating to Stratasys’ beliefs regarding the benefits consumers will experience from using the SAF ReLife™, its time of general ability and other statements in this press release are forward-looking statements reflecting management's current expectations and beliefs. These forward-looking statements are based on current information that is, by its nature, subject to rapid and even abrupt change. Due to risks and uncertainties associated with Stratasys' business, actual results could differ materially from those projected or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the degree of our success at introducing new or improved products and solutions that gain market share; the degree of growth of the 3D printing market generally; the impact of potential shifts in the prices or margins of the products that we sell or services that we provide, including due to a shift towards lower-margin products or services; the impact of competition and new technologies; potential further charges against earnings that we could be required to take due to impairment of additional goodwill or other intangible assets; to the extent of our success at successfully consummating acquisitions or investments in new businesses, technologies, products or services; potential changes in our management and board of directors; global market, political and economic conditions, and in the countries in which we operate in particular; risks related to infringement of our intellectual property rights by others or infringement of others' intellectual property rights by us; the extent of our success at maintaining our liquidity and financing our operations and capital needs; the impact of tax regulations on our results of operations and financial condition; and other risk factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in Stratasys’ most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 11th, 2024. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made throughout our 2023 Annual Report and our other reports filed with or furnished to the SEC, which are designed to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Any guidance provided, and other forward-looking statements made, in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and Stratasys undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
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