Roland DG Corporation, a leading manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers and desktop fabrication devices worldwide, today announced that it will showcase the potential of its new ceramic 3D printing technology using alumina powder at Formnext to be held in Frankfurt, Germany from November 15 to 18. 

At the exhibition, the public will have the opportunity to view the Roland DG ceramic 3D printer and application samples for the first time. New jetting technologies make it possible to create complex ceramic objects based on jetting binder material into alumina powder. 

The majority of 3D printers today use low-cost fused filament fabrication (FFF) technology with materials limited to resins for prototyping. 3D printers that support a wider range of materials are generally priced at the high end and are large in size. Roland DG’s goal is to explore the possibility of offering a small to mid-range 3D printer which supports materials capable of expanding the use of 3D printing technology for rapid manufacturing by small to mid-size companies. 

According to Michel Van Vliet, General Manager of Roland DG industrial business development unit, the new technology produces fine details and the precision suitable not only for the decorative field, but also for manufacturing industry parts such as ceramic filter elements, valves or heat insulators. Another advantage of the new technology is the shortened processing time required for creating ceramic objects. 

“Showcasing this new addition to our core technology prior to the release of an actual product streamlines the R&D process,” Van Vliet said, “and will enable our company to release products precisely tailored to the needs of customers. Addressing market demands and delivering complete solutions has always been a strategic goal of the company. Now, we can take the product development process to the next step by providing the opportunity for the public to influence our next product by listening to their feedback.”