Jabil integrates engineered materials, 3D printing machines, proven processes

St. Petersburg, Florida – Jabil officials have introduced a complete solution for creating, integrating, and validating custom engineered materials for additive manufacturing (AM). The availability of Jabil Engineered Materials reinforces the company’s 3D printing leadership while driving further adoption of 3D printing to produce highly functional parts for diverse and unique customer applications.

“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,” says John Dulchinos, vice president of digital manufacturing, Jabil. “Our ability to integrate new engineered materials into our ecosystem of 3D printers and rigorous processes will transform a new generation of AM applications, including those for heavily regulated industries, such as aerospace, automotive, industrial, and healthcare.”

According to a 2019 survey of 3D printing stakeholders sponsored by Jabil, expected growth rates for use of 3D printing have skyrocketed despite lingering challenges with part quality and materials. More than half of the 300 survey participants reported that the cost and availability of materials is an obstacle for increasing 3D printing adoption within their organizations.

Driving adoption with integrated materials, processes, and machines (MPM)
Jabil will evaluate, qualify, and validate materials alongside certified machines and processes as part of an integrated MPM solution that matches specific part performance with application requirements. This comprehensive approach ensures greater availability of unique materials while reducing time-to-market and cost to produce the highest quality parts.

Additionally, Jabil’s manufacturing rigor and leadership in adopting open 3D printing platforms will optimize the performance of specific materials on multiple 3D printers. Backed by a half-century of manufacturing experience and broad visibility into diverse customers, technologies, and industries, Jabil is uniquely positioned to expand the AM landscape.

Materials Innovation Center opens in Minnesota
Jabil has opened a Materials Innovation Center in Minnesota to deliver complete 3DP solutions under one roof, encompassing polymer formulations, compound development and ISO 9001 Quality Management System (QMS) certification. AM engineers, chemists, materials scientists and production experts consult with customers, leverage Jabil’s materials science innovations and oversee each step of making custom powders and filaments.

The rapid iteration and certified production of these engineered materials will provide customers with a faster path from prototyping to production than currently available. Value-added attributes include, but aren’t limited to, reinforced, flame retardant, conductive, lubricated, electrostatic dissipative (ESD), and other engineered characteristics. A full range of services also are available, including compounding, extrusion and powder creation as well as complete system integration on standard, open source platforms supported by fused filament fabrication (FFF), selective laser sintering (SLS), and high-speed sintering (HSS) equipment.

“As an emerging digital manufacturing powerhouse, Jabil is clearing the major obstacles to delivering robust, certifiable, traceable production solutions for additive manufacturing,” said Richard D’Aveni, Dartmouth Tuck professor and author of the new book, THE PAN-INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: How New Manufacturing Titans Will Transform the World. “By smoothly interconnecting 3D printing machines, processes and materials across its global AM network, Jabil is poised to propel the entire AM market forward with speed and agility.”

Availability
Jabil Engineered Materials are available through distribution partners, including Chase Plastics and Channel Prime Alliance. Print profiles for Jabil Engineered Materials also will be available through Ultimaker Cura software with links to Jabil’s distribution partners.