Essentium Strengthens Additive Manufacturing Portfolio with Strategic Acquisition of Collider: Unlocking New Potential in DLP 3D Printing and Programmable Tooling

Leading industrial additive manufacturing (AM) innovator, Essentium, has announced a significant strategic move with the signing of a Letter of Intent to acquire Collider. This acquisition marks a pivotal moment, bringing Collider’s renowned Programmable Tooling technology, which uniquely combines Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing with advanced injection molding techniques, into Essentium’s extensive portfolio. The acquisition underscores Essentium’s ambitious strategy to leverage its deep expertise in material science and high-performance 3D printing machines to penetrate new and demanding industries. This expansion is particularly aimed at revolutionizing the tooling sector and enabling the rapid, efficient production of geometrically complex, custom parts on an unprecedented scale. This move is one of many high-profile acquisitions in the additive manufacturing space this year, signaling the continued robust growth, technological maturation, and overall health of the entire AM sector.

The year has proven to be exceptionally dynamic for businesses operating within the thriving additive manufacturing market. Despite the global challenges posed by the pandemic in 2020, the industry demonstrated remarkable resilience and continued growth. 2021 subsequently commenced with a flurry of significant business activities, including numerous strategic acquisitions. A notable example was Desktop Metal’s acquisition of EnvisionTEC, a pioneering company credited with inventing DLP 3D printing technology, highlighting a broader industry trend towards consolidation and technological diversification. Essentium, a frontrunner in its own right, has been anything but stagnant. The company recently released a comprehensive report that emphatically demonstrated how strategic investments in additive manufacturing are yielding substantial returns, especially within large-scale production environments. Furthermore, Essentium expanded its hardware offerings with the launch of the new High Speed Extrusion (HSE) 280i HT 3D Printer, which it proudly claims is the industry’s first true independent dual extrusion system. Now, with the latest acquisition of Collider, Essentium is poised to further broaden its market reach, capitalizing on the unique and versatile properties of DLP printing technology to address an even wider array of industrial applications and customer needs.

Essentium acquired Collider for its innovative DLP technology, which empowers users to create highly effective tools and custom, geometrically complex parts with precision and efficiency (photo credits: Essentium)

Essentium Poised to Leverage Collider’s Groundbreaking DLP Technology for Unprecedented Innovation

Collider’s Programmable Tooling technology stands out due to its truly innovative approach, which synergistically combines the speed and precision of DLP with the material versatility of injection molding. The process begins by utilizing DLP techniques to precisely create a thin photopolymer shell, acting as a structural matrix. This shell is then strategically injected with a diverse range of high-performance materials, which are subsequently cured through a sophisticated chemical process. Following a tailored post-processing stage, the result is either a production-quality end part or a robust mold, ready for immediate use. This technology is particularly compelling for Essentium because it unlocks the capability to utilize an extensive array of advanced materials, including high-performance thermosetting polymers and sophisticated composites such as polyurethanes, silicones, epoxies, polyesters, foamed resins, and carbon fiber composites. Crucially, the system also supports the use of sintered metals and ceramics, all achievable with a single, highly versatile machine. This broad material compatibility not only offers unparalleled design freedom but also promises to significantly reduce manufacturing complexities and costs associated with traditional multi-machine workflows. By integrating Collider’s technology, Essentium can now offer solutions that blend the detailed resolution of photopolymer 3D printing with the material properties typically found in injection-molded parts, catering to applications demanding both precision and material performance.

For Essentium, the acquisition of Collider was a clear and strategically sound decision, aligning perfectly with their vision for the future of industrial additive manufacturing. Jeffrey Lumetta, Chief Technology Officer at Essentium, articulated this synergy, commenting: “Collider has a tremendous amount to bring to the table. Their innovative method of bringing together proven technologies—specifically DLP 3D printing and injection molding—to create high-value use cases has already firmly established their industry value. We envision significant opportunities in tooling for low volumes of parts, where traditional manufacturing methods are often cost-prohibitive or too slow. Furthermore, their technology offers the unprecedented ability to manufacture geometrically complex, highly custom parts on-demand and with remarkable speed. This capability is crucial for industries requiring rapid prototyping, personalized products, or specialized components. Beyond these immediate benefits, this acquisition also represents Essentium’s pivotal first entrance into photopolymer AM technologies, which will profoundly expand our product offerings across several key areas. This expansion will be particularly impactful when combined with our unique and industry-leading material science capabilities, allowing us to develop innovative solutions that push the boundaries of what’s currently possible in additive manufacturing.” This strategic move is set to broaden Essentium’s technological base, making it a more comprehensive solution provider for diverse industrial applications.

An exquisite example of a highly detailed part meticulously crafted using Collider’s advanced DLP technology (photo credits: Essentium)

The acquisition of Collider is expected to propel Essentium’s additive manufacturing capabilities to new horizons, providing manufacturers across a broad spectrum of industries with significant advantages in speed, economics, and innovation. The combined expertise and technology are poised to unlock unprecedented levels of efficiency and flexibility. For instance, in the consumer goods sector, this could mean rapid prototyping and mass customization of products, allowing brands to respond to market trends with unparalleled agility. In the medical field, it could enable the creation of highly personalized prosthetics, implants, and surgical tools tailored to individual patient needs, leading to better outcomes and shorter recovery times. The transportation and aerospace industries stand to benefit from the ability to produce lightweight, complex components with superior material properties, contributing to fuel efficiency and enhanced performance. Furthermore, the technology promises to revolutionize the wearable electronics market by facilitating the integration of advanced materials into flexible and durable devices. Across industrial applications, the rapid production of specialized tooling and custom machinery parts will drastically reduce downtime and accelerate production cycles. Essentium specifically hopes that Collider’s technology will serve as a powerful catalyst for further innovation, enabling true mass customization and accelerating product development cycles across its client base. Reinforcing this commitment, Graham Bredemeyer, Collider’s former CEO, will play a crucial role in this strategic integration, joining Essentium’s team as the Director of the Photopolymer Group. His leadership and deep understanding of Collider’s technology will be instrumental in driving forward Essentium’s photopolymer initiatives and ensuring a seamless transition and maximized synergy. For more in-depth information regarding this transformative acquisition, please refer to the official press release HERE.

What are your thoughts on Essentium’s bold move into the realm of DLP 3D printing through its strategic acquisition of Collider? We invite you to share your perspectives and insights in the comments section below, or engage with us on our social media channels, including Facebook and Twitter. To stay consistently informed about the latest breakthroughs, trends, and news in the dynamic world of 3D printing, don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly newsletter, delivering all the essential updates directly to your inbox!