Henkel, a leading global supplier of high performance light cure acrylic, silicone, epoxy, and polyurethane adhesives used in critical applications such as medical and electronic device as well as transportation vehicle assembly, is developing new light cure resins for stereolithography (SLA) and digital light processing (DLP) 3D printers. The first of these materials will be commercialized in 2017. Although more expensive than fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printers, SLA and DLP machines can fabricate parts at an incredibly high resolution, using digitally controlled light projection to cure shapes, layer by layer, in a vat of liquid resin. Formlabs Form 2, one of the most popular consumer-level SLA 3D printers, is widely considered one of the best desktop printers on the market, while 3D printing giant 3D Systems reckons that the technology will soon become widely adopted on futuristic additive manufacturing production lines. Seeing the huge promise of light-based 3D printing processes, Henkel plans to supply light cure resins for SLA and DLP 3D printing, adding to its large portfolio of light cure acrylic, silicone, epoxy, and polyurethane adhesives. Henkel will take advantage of its technical expertise in the production of various materials to develop a new line of materials suitable for both functional prototyping and production-standard additive manufacturing in “areas not possible today”, according to the company. Henkel believes it is strongly positioned to develop light-curable 3D printing materials suitable for use in all of these areas and more. The company is striving to have the first of these materials commercialized by 2017, in order to offer customers with new products as soon as possible. With several links to 3D printing companies and projects already established, Henkel should have few problems marketing its new products to the SLA and DLP printing market. In addition to developing new materials for light-based 3D printing processes, Henkel plans to continue making hotmelt adhesives that have previously been used to 3D print automotive parts, filters, medical devices, protective cases for electronic assemblies, furniture, and more. Building on this experience, the company will seek to develop further powder and filament materials suitable for use in selective laser sintering (SLS) and FFF 3D printers, respectively. One of Henkel’s most high-profile 3D printing endeavors to date has been its cooperation with the Dutch design and architecture start-up DUS Architects, who initiated the world’s first 3D printed canal house project in Amsterdam in 2014. Earlier this year, DUS Architects designed the façade of a mobile conference building in Amsterdam. The individual elements were manufactured using Henkel hot melt adhesives on the basis of sustainable raw materials, and then injected with concrete. The bioplastic material offers the individual components with high consistency and stability, and can easily be recycled.