What a nice coincidence! Just a few days ago, we were telling that a conversation about multi-functional parts produced with Additive Manufacturing makes sense now as additively manufactured parts, although extensively customizable, are often limited in functionality.
Here is the thing, although it is clear that multi-functionality, by definition, requires the integration of active sub-components in order to deliver additional functional capabilities, such as electronic, electro-mechanical, optical, electromagnetic, chemical and thermal properties, there is still a limited number of technologies available to enable the production of such parts in one go.
Interestingly, ioTech Group Ltd (“ioTech”), a new comer in the additive manufacturing industry, aims to address this industry gap. The startup has spent the past five years developing a technology named C.L.A.D. for Continuous Laser Assisted Deposition.
With the ambition to change both the electronics and additive manufacturing industries, ioTech explains that with C.L.A.D, manufacturers can use their standard industrial materials, control the deposition of each single drop and reach unmatched production yields.
This also means that the company targets mass-manufacturing applications such as semiconductor packaging and printed circuit boards, manufacturing and assembly.
“We are excited to introduce our unique C.L.A.D. technology to the electronics industry and additive manufacturing,” states Dr Michael Zenou, ioTech’s co-founder and CTO. “Its ability to deposit any flowable industrial material for so many applications is unprecedented. It will increase production efficiencies and encourage innovation for many companies. A whole host of industries will be able to adopt an agile manufacturing approach to deliver fully functional products fast, facilitating mass customization when required, and at the same time, be eco-friendly. The flexibility of C.L.A.D. is simply remarkable.”
Furthermore, ioTech might be coming out from its stealth mode today, but it is already backed by some industry companies such as ASM Pacific Technologies, a supplier of hardware and software solutions for the manufacturing of semi-conductors and electronics, and Henkel Adhesive Technologies, a specialist of adhesives.
Both companies- investors, see the value the start-up can bring in markets beyond the electronics manufacturing, not to mention that for Henkel Adhesives, it’s also a mean to complete its existing portfolio in adhesives, sealants and functional coatings.
“ioTech is thrilled to receive ASMPT and Henkel’s vote of confidence,” adds Hervé Javice, ioTech’s co-founder and CEO. “These investments are a validation of our disruptive technology. In cooperation with both companies, we have identified multiple existing and novel applications in electronics manufacturing. ioTech’s unique system will add significant value for electronics manufacturers in terms of innovative designs and higher yields. We look forward to a successful and fruitful collaboration with both ASMPT and Henkel.”
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