Additive manufacturing opens up new possibilities for the development and construction of catalysts for the chemical industry. It is not for nothing that Shell invests heavily in AM. This year, the energy company will provide a keynote speaker at Rapid.Tech 3D in Erfurt for the first time. Jurjen Meeuwissen, Senior Research Scientist at Shell, will speak at the conference in Erfurt about AM for catalysts at Shell.
This keynote lecture does not just appear out of the blue. Rapid.Tech 3D is expanding the conference program this year with a new forum: Chemie & Verfahrungstechnik.
Key role chemistry in AM
Process improvements
The chemical industry plays a key role in the AM industry in several respects. On the one hand as a developer and supplier of materials; on the other hand as a customer of the technology. “With the possibilities of additive manufacturing, the chemical industry can now also further improve its own processes. The production technology can be designed in such a way that factories can be operated more efficiently, that reactions run more energy-efficiently or that other temperature control is possible,” says Ölzem Weiss, chemist and curator of the new forum.
Practical examples
In this new part of the conference program several examples are presented of how chemistry innovates thanks to additive manufacturing. For example, BASF presents the development of new catalytic converters thanks to AM’s design freedom. This improves the capacity of the catalysts and makes it easier to adapt them to the specific requirements of a process. Bosch is also using AM in the development of a new type of microreactor, a project together with other partners. Bosch uses technical ceramics in this microreactor, a material that can withstand high temperatures. Professor Carlos Grande from Kaust Catalysis Center Saudi Arabia presents the latest scientific trends in catalysts. Finally, raw materials expert Götz Erhardt of Accenture discusses the role of 3D printing in climate protection and the opportunities offered by new materials and revenue models.
Innovations in AM
Another part of the congress at Rapid.Tech 3D shows new developments in AM technology. This covers topics such as 3D printing with wood (Desktop Metal); the use of blue lasers (DMG Mori) to print copper with DED technology; the application of 3D printing at the German Luftwaffe; and Massivit’s new cast-in-motion technology for the production of tools for fiber-reinforced plastics.
The chemistry forum will take place on the second day of Rapid.Tech, Wednesday, May 10. Here you will find an overview of all forums.
Hhe Forum Innovations in AM will take place on the opening day. Rapid.Tech 3D lasts from 9 – 11 May and takes place in Erfurt.