University of Bayreuth and naddcon agree on technology partnership

The University of Bayreuth and the private research, development and application center naddcon agree on a technology partnership in the field of 3D printing. It ensures that both sides have access to cutting-edge research and technologies.

With the research-oriented campus university and the implementation-oriented private application center, two strong partners are thus taking a major step forward in pioneering 3D printing technology in Upper Franconia. The University of Bayreuth and naddcon have agreed on a comprehensive exchange of research, development and application expertise on many levels in the field of additive manufacturing: A total of 25 chairs at the University of Bayreuth are already involved with the technology of the future as part of the Research Center for Additive Innovations – Campus Additive Innovations (CA.I). From the natural sciences and engineering to law and economics to sports and African studies, a wide range of specialist skills and technologies are being brought together and further developed here.

To kick off the cooperation, a technology day is planned at the University of Bayreuth, where the partners will present their technological and theoretical possibilities and derive potential joint projects from this. In a second step, machine days are planned, which will take place both in Bayreuth and at naddcon in Lichtenfels. Research projects with 3D printing technologies are to be carried out and evaluated with an extended group of participants. The dates are yet to be announced.

The extensive naddcon machine park with numerous innovative 3D printers will be made available to scientists on site as required or loaned to Bayreuth for specific research projects.

Basic research meets product development

Christian Steinhage, Managing Director of naddcon, says: “Our machine park contains prototypes of the most innovative 3D printers on the market, of which there are only a few in the world. We want to contribute to the development of new areas of application for 3D printing and open up completely new fields of business. This requires pioneering work with strong partners. Together with the University of Bayreuth, we are taking a giant step in this direction.”

Prof. Dr. Thomas Scheibel, Vice President Research at the University of Bayreuth, says: “The combination of basic university research and technology development with entrepreneurially focused product development is very attractive for us: it gives us access to cutting-edge technologies with which we can test whether and how our findings can be integrated into real technology, and we can provide evidence with innovative machines that we could not provide before. With naddcon and the University of Bayreuth, we have found two strong and technology-enthusiastic partners who are jointly driving innovation to the next level.”

A first concrete research project within the partnership between the University of Bayreuth and naddcon is taking place using the Xolography technology developed at the Berlin-Adlershof Technology Park. The completely new volumetric printing process makes it possible to print intricate components in seconds: Unlike conventional 3D printing processes, which work layer by layer, Xolography prints from the full volume. naddcon is the only company in Bavaria to use the Xube machine. As part of a research project at the Department of Biomaterials at the University of Bayreuth, Prof. Dr. Thomas Scheibel’s team will have access to the machine, which will be located in Bayreuth in phases in the future. The researchers want to use this new technology to process spider silk in a new way.

Frank Carsten Herzog, 3D printing pioneer and member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Bayreuth, says: “The transfer between science and industry is my main concern as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Bayreuth. With the cooperation we have now concluded, we are consolidating 3D printing as a key technology in the Upper Franconia region.”

University President Prof. Dr. Stefan Leible emphasizes: “As the University of Bayreuth, we always see ourselves as a driver of innovation in the region and we also benefit from the high level of expertise of local companies. The new cooperation with naddcon is an important building block in the University of Bayreuth’s transfer efforts.”