Replique launches Material Hub for 3D printing

Interested parties can get a personal impression at the Hannover Messe, where the database will be presented together with other functions of the 3D printing platform. The Material Hub, which is freely accessible via www.replique.io/de/material-hub/, currently contains more than 400 polymer materials that have been compiled in cooperation with more than 25 material manufacturers. This means that the number of available materials has more than doubled since the first presentation at Formnext in November 2023.

Even during the test phase, the hub helped companies, institutions and partners to find suitable 3D printing materials for complex requirement profiles in seconds. Mathilde Lepilliez, Innovation Manager and 3D printing engineer at Alstom, reports on her experiences: "Replique's Material Hub significantly speeds up the material selection process. Just recently, as part of a new 3D printing project, we were looking for a material that would meet our high flame retardancy requirements. Thanks to Replique's support, we were able to identify the right material quickly and efficiently. The Material Hub will become an integral part of our daily work to realize 3D printing applications."

Improved search function

The Material Hub offers various functions. Thanks to detailed filter options for technical properties, users can easily search the hub to find the right materials for their applications, saving time and money on manual research. Detailed technical specifications, test standards and application areas are provided for each material directly from the manufacturer to ensure informed decision making. In addition, printer manufacturers, service providers and other stakeholders can benefit from the collective knowledge in the database, fostering collaboration and innovation within the 3D printing community.

For the public launch, Replique has implemented several improvements based on user feedback, including an optimized search function. This allows users to search in detail, e.g. for direction-dependent mechanical properties, as well as to set search criteria at a more beginner-friendly level. This means that even less experienced users can use the tool efficiently to get to grips with additive manufacturing more quickly. Once a suitable material has been identified, users can now also request a quote for the production of their parts directly via Replique or contact the material provider to clarify further details.

Dr. Max Siebert, CEO and co-founder of Replique, comments on the milestone: "We are thrilled with the positive response to our Material Hub. The public launch marks an important step in our mission to democratize access to additive manufacturing. Our goal is to continuously improve the platform to meet the needs of our users in the future."

In the future, Replique plans to expand the Material Hub to include additional functions and materials. While the focus is currently on polymers, the inclusion of metal materials is already planned.

Hannover Messe 2024, Hall 2, Stand E 38