10-10-2023: Azul 3D secured $15 million in series A funding

The investmen was to further develop its proprietary vat photopolymerization technique known as HARP

On October 10, 2023, Azul 3D announced the completion of its Series A funding round, raising $15 million. The investment was made by Beta Lab, GS Futures, DuPont, and other investors. DuPont has been collaborating with Azul 3D since 2019 on the development of applications using 3D printing with photopolymers, known as High Area Rapid Printing (HARP). This technology allows the use of resins with flexible or rubber-like properties, which in some cases surpass the capabilities of other materials used in similar AM processes.

Azul 3D was founded in 2017 by Professor Chad Mirkin, James Hedrick, and David Walker, all from Northwestern University. The company originated as a research project in Mirkin’s lab, who is one of the leading scientists in nanotechnology and holds over 400 patents.

The beginnings of Azul 3D trace back to when Mirkin and his team came up with a new approach to photopolymerization technology. Their goal was to create a method that could speed up the 3D printing process and enable the creation of larger and more complex objects. This led to the development of the High Area Rapid Printing (HARP) technology, which allows for printing with resins that possess various properties, including flexible and rubber-like characteristics.

A key aspect of the company’s technology is the use of fluorinated oil as a lubricant at the interface between the component and the laser, allowing for a continuous high-throughput printing process. This approach enables Azul 3D to use resins incompatible with other methods, opening new possibilities for producing large and complex objects.

Currently, the company is led by John Hartner, who previously served as CEO at ExOne and EnvisionTEC. Hartner has extensive experience in the industrial sector, contributing to Azul 3D’s rapid growth since he joined.

Source: www.businesswire.com