Ultra-flexible bioplastic revolutionises 3D printing

Country Business Reports interviews and articles by Discovery Reports www.discoveryreports.com

Hotty Polymer, Japan’s leading extrusions manufacturer, is fast gaining a foothold in Europe and Asia with breakthrough technology that enables rapid prototyping using ultra-flexible bioplastic. The company’s HP filament, or soft resin combining polylactide and other elastomers, allows anyone to create a wide range of new products and designs using the fused deposition modelling (FDM) technology in 3D printing. The resulting 3D models are soft like rubber, dramatically improved from the rigidity of existing prototypes.

“Our original material for the FDM type of 3D printer is the first of its kind. Demand has been high in Europe where 3D printers are designed to make thick models. We believe there will be a huge increase and need for our HP filament in Asia as well, especially in China,” says Hidetoshi Hotta, president.

Hotty Polymer has been creating endless possibilities with polymer extrusions since 1951. Continuous innovation and rigorous quality control have made the company Japan’s leading provider of rubber and plastic extrusions for the construction, housing and automotive industries. The company customises solutions to provide water- or air-tightness, thermal or sound insulation, and design ability, depending on the clients’ needs.

It is No 1 in Japan for high-quality sealing materials such as gaskets for sliding windows or doors, weatherstrips and glass run channels for vehicles. Trademarked as “Sube-up” for their remarkable air-tightness, anti-mould and easy-sliding properties, these sealing materials have found their way to Taiwan, South Korea, mainland China, Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia. The company opened a branch in Thailand in 2011.

Hotty Polymer invites partnerships with well-entrenched distributors in these markets to broaden the reach of its environmentally friendly products.

“We create products with the environment in mind. For instance, our Sube-up products are frictionless and provide effective sealing for extreme weather conditions. This level of durability lessens the environmental impact of industries,” Hotta says.

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