Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
  • Tire Business
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Best Places to Work
    • Rubber Division IEC
    • War in Ukraine
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • ITEC
    • Silicone
    • Online Exclusive
    • Latex
    • Technical Notebooks
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Sustainability
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
  • Airless Tires
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
  • Resources
    • Directory
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
  • Data
  • Events
    • RN Events
    • RN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • Rubber News M&A Live
    • Ask the Expert
    • Healthcare Elastomers Conference
    • Rubber In Automotive Conference
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
October 19, 2016 02:00 AM

Sterne introduces niche 3D technology for silicones

Don Detore
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Don Detore
    Anthony Pellapol, materials engineer for Sterne Elastomers, and Celine Laget, pose in front of their firm's booth at the K2016

    DUESSELDORF, Germany—Sterne Elastomers, a niche company that has grown from a startup to a global firm with 7.5 million-plus euros in sales, has another niche technology to add to its portfolio.

    The Cavillon, France-based firm, which was founded in 1996, is touting its 3D silicone additive printing technology as a niche-based offering that could prove profitable in the markets it serves, particularly the medical field. The firm, which specializes in liquid and high consistency injection molding silicone production, officially unveiled its product at the K Show.

    The 3D printing technology uses silicone that is 100-percent UV cured, with no infill, and officials with the company say the technology can serve customers well who have designed a new device but may not want to invest in injection tooling to produce a working sample.

    According to Anthony Pellapol, materials engineer for the firm, the process utilizes fused definition modeling technology, or FDM, as well as stereolithography rapid prototyping technology, or SLA, to print the product layer by layer, to a minimum thickness of 0.25 mm. By next year, he hopes to work toward a 0.1 mm printing layer.

    “We've developed this for a year and a half,” Pellapol said, as visitors surrounded some of the products and the machinery at the Sterne booth at K. “Everyone is talking about additive manufacturing. We heard about UV curing, and as we offer silicone, we needed to find something to do with this silicone. When we heard about UV curing, we thought maybe that's the point.”

    Pellapol said the product offers two advantages. First, the UV curing is instant. Secondly, it's done at low temperature, allowing, for example, LED lights to be added to the product.

    Celine Laget, general manager at Sterne, said this technology has great potential for her firm's medical customers.

    “(Any new product) always goes through several steps and prototypes. It takes time to get to tool, so that it has a cost. It might not be the right shape or not right in another way,” Laget said.

    “This is just a very good way in short time, to get a real part and to make a decision. And sometimes the customers will need three, four, 10 different pieces of different models for different equipment, so it's much worse getting a tool, and this could be the right solution.

    “We don't see this technology as a mass manufacturing.”

    Sterne has done very well by serving its niche market. While medical represents more than 60 percent of its business, it also serves the pharmaceutical/cosmetic, design, food processing, railway/aerospace/transportation and nuclear technology industries.

    Customers are mostly in Europe and South America, but it also supplies North America, including the U.S., as well as into North Africa, South Africa and Israel.

    The 38,000 sq.-ft. plant has three clean rooms that encompass 6,500 square feet. It operates with between 50 and 60 employees, but Laget said the firm is poised to hire more employees, likely adding more work shifts, in the near future. She said the company has realized sales growth of between 6 and 10 percent each year since it was founded.

    “Our job is to do what the customer needs,” Laget said. “Everything we manufacture is custom-designed. What we want is show people is that we can do anything made of silicone, and considering this new technology, help them with their project or with their need.”

    Related Articles
    Momentive going live with LSR innovations
    Wacker boss: Silicone elastomers on 'solid' growth path
    Arlanxeo takes the stage at K
    Struktol to promote process additives
    K 2016 to include expanded 'Science Campus'
    K Show at a glance
    DSM reaches out via YouTube
    Teknor Apex introduces TPV for pipe seals
    Instron showcasing polymer testing machines
    Industry 4.0: Opportunity or hype?
    K 2016 expects to be largest ever
    Putting on the largest plastics trade fair is a massive undertaking
    Take 5: A look at TPEs
    VDMA seeks harmony with Industry 4,0
    Wacker to premiere 3D printing with silicones at K show
    Covestro eyes growth through innovation
    Take 5: A look at silicones
    Sabic launches first Saudi-made SR products
    Adidas to add U.S. SpeedFactory in Atlanta
    Chinese production benefits European machinery makers
    Kraton's CEO talks expansion in Asia, innovation
    Take 5: Smart technologies
    Thomas: Data is the missing link in EU circular economy
    Huntsman launches new TPUs for food contact applications
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Sustainability, circularity require full tire industry buy-in
    2
    VMI outlines tire technology upgrades for efficient, sustainable manufacturing
    3
    Toyo development could yield CO2-derived butadiene rubber
    4
    Michelin to invest $100 million in Kansas ag plant
    5
    Sumitomo Chemical ending SSBR, EPDM production
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Best Places to Work
      • Rubber Division IEC
      • War in Ukraine
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • ITEC
      • Silicone
      • Online Exclusive
      • Latex
      • Technical Notebooks
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • Opinion
      • Blogs
        • Products
        • Wacky World of Rubber
      • Sustainability
    • Airless Tires
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Resources
      • Directory
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Data
    • Events
      • RN Events
        • Healthcare Elastomers Conference
        • Rubber In Automotive Conference
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
      • RN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • Rubber News M&A Live
      • Ask the Expert
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION