Ztrusion revolutionizes 3D manufacturing of aluminium or plastic, with a technique like a rotating pasta machine
A Swedish company founded in Varberg, Reliefed Technologies, has invented a new, patented technology to make 3D manufacturing both cheaper and faster called z.trusion®. The actual idea came up in an interesting way, the founder Mark was out walking in the forest as he was reflecting on the challenge to develop a product that turned out to be too expensive to manufacture. He slipped on large wheel track in the forest - there and then he realized that rotating matrixes could create the complex 3D structures he was looking for. In my interview with CCO Lovisa Högberg she compares the underlying production technique “extrusion”, often used to form long profiles with a fixed cross sections like window profiles, bumper beams for cars or composite decking profiles, with a pasta making machine. This made the z.trusion technology highly comprehensible, at least to me.
Imagine you are making pasta by pushing pasta dough through a pasta making machine. If you upgrade your existing pasta machine with our z.trusion® tool, then suddenly you can make pasta with complex structures, patterns or text imprinted on top” says Lovisa Högberg, CCO at ztrusion.
With the help of rotating matrixes in the pressurized zone of an extruder, structured components will come out directly without creating material waste and without the need of any after processes.
We have a high set goal, to reduce global CO2e emissions with 1%. We see a substantial reduction in energy consumption and cost when using this technique compared to other 3D manufacturing technologies” says Lovisa Högberg.
Clients include for example Alfa Laval, and Tonality which is a producer of ceramic facades and a vehicle roof rack producer, where the technology is creating big resource savings, enabling new material choices and overall new design freedom.
We have been developing the technique for a while, and now we are finally ready to accelerate the commercialization and scale up in multiple industries” says Lovisa Högberg.
Reliefed Technologies are in the closing phase of their A round around the time for Sweden Sustaintech Venture Day so be sure to listen to their presentation. They have recently received 2,5 million Euro in grants and a coming 3,5 million Euro in equity investment from Europe’s innovation agency EIC. Other investors are Almi Invest Greentech, Corespring New Technology and SEB. The new funding will be used for commercial development and a z.trusion technical center.
Lovisa Höberg
PERSONAL PROFILE:
Age:
34
Education:
BSc Engineering & MSc Business & entrepreneurship, (Civilingenjör) from Chalmers University
Born in:
Skövde, Sweden
Title:
Chief Commercial Officer
Vision:
To accelerate the green transition by making resource efficient 3D manufacturing the norm, not the exception for mass market industries.
Challenge:
Climate change
Best read:
Jag kan ha fel
Sustainable hobby tip:
Grab the train, summertime, to Åre, Sweden. Hike the Jämtlandstriangeln, fish trout or pick a year’s consumption of wild cloudberrys!
