Airtech Qualifies Dahltram Resins for Integration With Caracol’s Heron LFAM Platform

Airtech Advanced Materials Group is collaborating with Caracol to grow the large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) market by qualifying Airtech’s Dahltram resins with Caracol’s Heron technology. The partnership is focused on advancing AM capabilities for large-scale industrial applications.

As part of the collaboration, Airtech has qualified its Dahltram resins for integration with Caracol’s Heron LFAM platform. This accomplishment supports Caracol in its efforts to offer Airtech’s Dahltram resins to its global customers.

Established in 2017, Caracol has engineered the Heron AM platform to include a modular, polymer and composite pellet extrusion robotic 3D printer which is designed for large-scale industrial applications. Caracol says the integration of this hardware, software and automation delivers a turnkey solution that optimizes flexibility, process control and performance.

“We are excited to collaborate with Caracol to bring our Dahltram resins to their Heron AM platforms,” says Gregory Haye, director of Additive Manufacturing at Airtech Advanced Materials Group. “This partnership signifies our commitment to driving innovation in additive manufacturing and providing our customers with cutting-edge solutions that meet their evolving needs.”

Airtech says the Dahltram resins have undergone extensive testing and validation for compatibility with the Heron AMTM platforms. Airtech’s Dahltram resin range is well suited for multiple print platforms and offers production flexibility with end-use material approvals. Rigorous thermal cycle testing, pressure leak testing, laser surface scanning and contact material testing have generated data that supports more than 500 autoclave cycles without degrading the Dahltram tooling resins.

“Working with a partner like Airtech on advanced materials is a key step for us in enabling customers to have an end-to-end manufacturing process that guarantees reliability, quality and efficiency,” says Violetta Nespolo, Caracol’s chief marketing and strategy officer. “Our end goal is always delivering the highest quality standards and results on our clients’ applications, and we believe that we can drive this only by collaborating with the best partners across the value chain.”

The launch of Dahltram T-100GF marked Airtech’s entry into recycled-grade thermoplastic polymer resins for pellet-fed, large-scale 3D printing. As recycled materials, these resins can make an impact in sustainability initiatives. Notably, Dahltram I-350CF played a role in the EmpowerAX project, recognized as the winner of the 2024 JEC Innovation Award for Aerospace Processes.

By qualifying Dahltram Resins for integration with Caracol’s Heron AM LFAM platforms, both companies say they are empowering manufacturers to achieve their production goals efficiently and sustainably.