Carborundum Universal Limited (CUMI), a leading ceramics manufacturing company based in India, has installed a 3DCeram ceramic stereolithography (SLA) 3D printer at its industrial ceramics business facilities. 3DCeram will exhibit at ceramitec 2024. Visitors can see the company’s technology and its latest applications in Hall 6, Stand 236.
CUMI also acknowledged the commitment and expertise of Shree Rapid Technologies, representing 3DCeram Sinto in this transformative venture, and expressed satisfaction with the installation, training and ongoing support.
“We are confident that by integrating 3D printing technology into our production process, we can serve additional markets for technical ceramics. We are satisfied with the installation, training and support provided by Shree Rapid Technologies on behalf of 3D Ceram Sinto,” said Prathap Kumar, Business Head, Industrial Ceramics Division, CUMI.
The collaboration promises to revolutionize Carborundum Universal’s production capabilities, enabling the company to produce essential and critical ceramic parts with a precision not achievable using traditional manufacturing methods.
The family of 3DCeram printers
The family of 3DCeram printers CUMI, a distinguished member of the INR 742 billion (US$8.9 billion) Murugappa Group, specializes in materials science engineering solutions and has a global presence in industries such as abrasives, electro-minerals, ceramics, refractories and energy storage materials. With a workforce of over 5,500 employees, CUMI is known for its commitment to innovation, collaboration and providing high-quality materials solutions.
3DCeram’s recently acquired ceramic 3D printer leverages state-of-the-art stereolithography technology, giving CUMI a strategic advantage in the production of ceramic components. Unlike traditional methods, the top-down stereolithography method does not require support structures, allowing complex parts to be manufactured with uncompromising precision.
This technology allows CUMI to retain the same properties as ceramics produced by traditional processes and also provides scalability for larger components, a feature not readily available with alternative technologies such as DLP stereolithography.
CUMI has already successfully evaluated the production of aluminum oxide parts using the 3DCeram 3D printer and achieved positive results. The company is poised to further expand its capabilities by testing materials such as zirconia, silicon nitride and Silicore (silicon-based foundry cores) in the near future. By integrating 3D printing technology into its production processes, CUMI aims to open up new markets for technical ceramics and consolidate its position as an industry leader.
According to VoxelMatters’ latest report on AM for technical ceramics, this market segment is expected to grow from $113 million in 2022 to $2 billion in sales in 2032, at a CAGR of 33.5%. The study, published in 2023, is based on 108 companies that have invested equity in AM for technical ceramics, representing almost the entire market and its key segments: 24 hardware manufacturers, 40 material suppliers and 44 service providers. The dataset for this study includes over 15,000 data points, providing one of the most accurate snapshots of the global market.