Jabil Inc. has opened a materials innovation center in Chaska, Minn., to develop custom materials for additive manufacturing.
Officials of the St. Petersburg, Fla.-based company said Jabil Engineered Materials will speed up product development by evaluating and validating materials, along with machines and processes in an integrated process that matches part performance with application demands.
The result is faster product development.
"Jabil is taking advantage of its rich history in materials science innovation to advance the entire additive manufacturing market forward and produce custom materials in weeks — not months," said John Dulchinos, the company's vice president of digital manufacturing. "Our ability to integrate new engineered materials into our ecosystem of 3D printers and rigorous processes will transform a new generation of additive manufacturing applications, including those for heavily regulated industries such as aerospace, automotive, industrial and health care."
Jabil Engineered Materials are available through distribution partners, including Chase Plastic Services Inc. and Channel Prime Alliance LLC. Print profiles for Jabil Engineered Materials also will be available through Ultimaker Cura software, with links to Jabil's distributors.
The innovation center does polymer formulations, compound development and certification of ISO 9001 Quality Management System. Additive manufacturing engineers, chemists, materials scientists and production experts consult with customers and oversee every step of making custom powders and filaments.
The center supports fused filament fabrication, selective laser sintering and high-speed sintering equipment. Value-added features include reinforced materials, flame retardant, conductive, lubricated, electrostatic dissipative and other engineered characteristics.
Jabil announced the center Jan. 22.
