Moving to a more sustainable and responsible economy with 4D Pioneers

The additive manufacturing sector has seen the supply of materials explode in recent years: market players are constantly innovating and looking for solutions to meet the needs and constraints of manufacturers. It is well known that the materials that are now compatible with 3D printing are considered more and more important, even receiving more consideration than the printers themselves at times. Among the start-ups that have recently developed to advance additive manufacturing is 4D Pioneers, despite being founded barely a year ago. The startup helps manufacturers move towards a more responsible and sustainable economy, with a 360° process: diagnosis, design, deployment and sustainability (the 4 Ds in the original French, hence 4D Pioneers). It has also developed its range of high-performance materials, including fire-resistant solutions. To learn more about its projects and ambitions, we met with Nicolas Gay, one of the founders of the startup.

3DN: Can you introduce yourself and your link with additive manufacturing?

Hello, my name is Nicolas Gay and I’m the co-founder and technical director of 4D Pioneers. I’m an engineer with a PhD in civil engineering, and I did my thesis on the problems of elastomer durability in a nuclear environment in partnership with Électricité de France S.A., commonly known as EDF, (a French multinational electric utility company largely owned by the French state), Centrale Lille (LamCube) and Arts et Métiers ParisTech. During those 3 years, I often had to develop new experiments. I was immediately interested in additive manufacturing which represented a great tool for my research with the design and rapid realization of proof of concept for the purpose of material characterization. As a result, when I joined Centrale Lille for my post-doctorate, I took part in the creation of a 3D platform to meet industrial challenges. This led me to realize that 3D was much more than a simple prototyping tool but that it could play a major role in the manufacturing of functional parts and thus revolutionize the future of industry.

Nicolas Gay is the co-founder of 4D Pioneers

3DN: Why did you create 4D Pioneers?

With my associate, Ingrid Florentin, we were convinced that a radical change was taking place in the world of industry, particularly in the field of obsolescence and the repair of industrial equipment. 3D was going to be THE structuring pillar of this transition, and it was inconceivable that it could happen without us! With my expertise in materials, processes and durability and Ingrid’s expertise in business and strategy we decided to found 4D Pioneers in March 2020.