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The first Local Production Unit allowing Printing of Complex Multi-material Objects Remotely

Project description

Pushing the limits of 3D printing

3D printing has become the go-to production method, with multiple vertical markets involved. Even though the sale of professional desktop 3D printing machines is growing by up to 70 % each year and are becoming more reliable, they ultimately lack the functionality and usability needed to become a real mainstream technology. Plasmics was founded with the sole goal to overcome these limitations, by creating the disruptive Local Production Unit (LPU), from which KOBOLD is the first product. It has a versatile hybrid printing capability and does not require prior expertise in 3D printing. The EU-funded KOBOLD project performed a technical and commercial feasibility assessment of the product. KOBOLD is anticipated to grow the company's revenue to €13.8 million by 2025, while creating 20 new direct jobs.

Objective

3D printing has become a ubiquitous industrial production method, with multiple vertical markets being involved, including healthcare, automotive or aeronautic industries which routinely print a myriad of products, from hearing aids to the engine of a car. The professional desktop 3D printing represents the next printing revolution, as shown by the staggering 50-70% of these printers being sold to companies, especially small businesses run by engineers or designers to get early concept design. The reason is these machines are becoming more reliable, but they ultimately lack the functionality and usability that would be needed to become a real mainstream technology. Plasmics was founded with the sole goal to overcome these limitations, by creating the disruptive Local Production Unit (LPU), from which KOBOLD is the first product we are developing and plan to commercialize. Functionality is achieved thanks to KOBOLD's multi-material versatile printing capability, thanks to our modular cartridge system (patented) allowing printing complex objects using as many materials as cartridges are coupled to the printer. Up to 5 cartridges can be coupled to KOBOLD, with the additional advantage of being able to upgrade KOBOLD with new materials as they become available, instead of having to invest on a new printer or acquiring extra technical capabilities. Usability is achieved because KOBOLD does not require prior expertise in 3D printing to unfold its full potential, thanks to its user-friendly online software platform enabling the user to store, slice their designs and to keep their IP and collected models safe, while allowing object printing from any device and from anywhere. With KOBOLD, we anticipate to grow our company's revenue to €13.8 million by 2025, whilst creating 20 new direct jobs. To this end, we envisage a business model where besides the revenue generated from KOBOLD, cartridge sales will represent an important source of income too.

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

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Coordinator

SCHREINER KONRAD
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 50 000,00
Address


Austria

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Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 71 429,00
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