Nano Dimension on the Future of Electronics in Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing has been growing in importance in a number of different industries in the past few years. The ability to create objects that are customizable, more optimized, and often cheaper than parts created through traditional methods has made AM invaluable in a lot of critical sectors. However, there is one industry where AM has been struggling to make its mark: electronics. While sectors like aerospace and automotive have been using AM for years, 3D printing has made less of an impact overall on the electronics industry. That being said, microscale additive manufacturing has been growing exponentially in recent years, with companies working to advance Additive Manufacturing Electronics (AME) technology. One of the leaders of this movement is Nano Dimension, a manufacturer of 3D printed electronics systems that uses their own proprietary inkjet printing technology and nano-inks to create precise electronic parts for a variety of industries including medical, automotive and aerospace. They are also noted for their extensive contributions to pushing research and working with academia to help redefine how we think about AME technologies and what it is possible to create. We spoke with Valentin Storz, the General Manager of EMEA at Nano Dimension, to learn more about their technology, the applications of 3D printed electronics and engaging with academia to push the boundaries of existing technology and help to train the next generation of engineers.

3DN: Can you introduce yourself and your connection to AM?

3DN: What about Nano Dimension? How was it started? What is its mission?

Nano Dimension is the company that is electrifying additive manufacturing. It is the company that has technology that comes in a system the size of two refrigerators, called DragonFly LDM®. The system has the ability to jet simultaneously dielectric and conductive inks to 3D print free form electronic parts. We are bridging the gap between the PCB and Semiconductor Industry with the development of Hi-PEDs™ (High-Performance Electronic Devices). These are more than just circuit boards with printed components; they have coils, capacitors, complex circuitry, transformers and more. We are also involved in a number of projects and industries. For example, we produced a 3D printed Radio Frequency (RF) Amplifier that was sent to the international space station. The mission of Nano Dimension, is to revolutionize electronics AM.