Malping: Specialist for additive manufacturing with high-performance plastics – Interview with founder Bastian Gaedike

Malping GmbH based in Germany specialises in additive manufacturing with high-performance polymers. The company was founded in April 2021 by Dr. Bastian Gaedike, a materials scientist with many years of experience in large-scale projects. In an interview with 3Druck.com, he talks about the use of high-performance materials such as PEEK and Ultem in additive manufacturing, their potential and future innovations. 

As a 3D printing expert, Malping GmbH offers complete solutions for the implementation of overall processes in additive manufacturing. The company emphasises the correct selection and application of materials. This enables specific components to be produced quickly, efficiently and in a resource-saving manner. The team’s expertise in materials science enables the development of customised solutions that meet the high demands of a wide range of industries.

Based on the philosophy that the right materials, in the right place and at the right time are what counts, Malping GmbH is setting new standards in the industry. The company has established itself as a reliable partner for the industry thanks to its innovative approaches and the rapid availability of specific components.

Interview with Bastian Gaedike

In an interview with 3Druck.com, Dr. Bastian Gaedike, founder of Malping GmbH, explains the advantages and challenges of high-performance materials in 3D printing. He emphasises the great potential in the series production of spare parts and predicts moderate but steady growth in demand. Gaedike sees future innovations primarily in the use of granulate for additive manufacturing.

What specific advantages do high-performance polymers such as PEEK and Ultem offer compared to conventional plastics and what challenges arise when processing them in additive manufacturing processes?

The advantages are obvious straight from the name. PEEK and Ultem are in great demand wherever high performance is required from a material. This means outstanding mechanical, thermal or chemical properties, which are particularly present in both plastics in combination. However, these properties are also associated with difficult processability and a high price. This is why these plastics are not used everywhere.

In your opinion, which industries particularly benefit from the use of high-performance plastics in 3D printing and which applications are the most widespread?

There are smaller and larger niches in all sectors where high-performance plastics are required. In industry, these materials are particularly in demand in passenger transport (rail, road, air and water) and for high-strength wear parts due to fire safety regulations. Ultem in particular is already used for many spare parts where injection moulding or other processes are simply too expensive.

Its chemical resistance makes it essential for the chemical industry and its plant manufacturers, for example, to use high-performance plastics.

What new market areas and applications are emerging as a result of the availability of additively manufactured high-performance polymers?

I see great potential in the series production of spare parts through the additive manufacturing of semi-finished products made from high-performance polymers. The previous method of producing parts from large blocks by machining demands enormous costs from the manufacturers. In addition, more than half of the semi-finished product ends up in the swarf bucket. Additive manufacturing enables near-net-shape production here. This not only makes the semi-finished product cheaper, it also saves time on the cutting machine. 

How do you expect the demand for additively manufactured components made from high-performance polymers to develop?

We are still at the stage where we have to demonstrate the potential to many users. It helps that the basics of additive manufacturing are becoming part of the expertise of more and more companies and demand is therefore rising sharply. However, the processing of high-performance polymers is very consulting-intensive and will probably remain so. I therefore don’t expect to see major growth in the high double-digit percentage range, but rather in the range that our colleagues from AMPower mentioned in their latest study for the industry as a whole: lower double-digit growth per year.

What future developments and innovations can be expected in the field of additive manufacturing with high-performance plastics and how could these change the industry?

I have high expectations for the processing of granulate for additive manufacturing. Until now, filament processing using FFF/FDM has been the standard for high-performance polymers. Several granulate machine manufacturers are trying their hand at the technology and have made considerable progress in some cases. Of course, high performance requires special process control here too. However, we will also be investing in this technology in the coming weeks.

Here you can find further information on Malping.