The situation

3D printing has brought about a revolution in the manufacturing industry, allowing the production of highly complex components and creating new opportunities in the market for personalized devices. It has become the standard for manufacturing custom-made earmolds in hearing aids, dentures, surgical models, implants, and prototypes.

The problem

However, current 3D printing methods come with a set of limitations. One of the primary drawbacks is the layer-by-layer process, resulting in slow fabrication times. The speed of production depends on factors such as the size and complexity of the object. Additionally, the technology necessitates the use of support structures and entails laborious post-processing workflow. Moreover, mechanical forces cause damage to the printed objects, posing another challenge to overcome.

The business idea

Our business idea is to develop and provide Volumetric 3D printers that enable complete in-clinic production of custom-made components for variety of applications. This approach is innovative because it addresses the pain points associated with the current process of producing personalized devices. The technology, Volumetric Additive Manufacturing (VAM), defies these limits by instantly fabricating all points within an object. The process shortens manufacturing times from hours to seconds and improves quality.

Beachhead market

Instant production of personalized earmolds for hearing aids.

Status

The startup expects to introduce their first generic printer post-CE marking, by the end of 2024. This will be followed by the introduction of the printer with material and features specifically designed for the hearing aid industry, following the MDR approval by H2 2025.

Team

A – Co-founder & CEO, holds a double PhD degree in Economics and Management from Copenhagen Business School and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and an MSc in Political Science and Government from Aarhus University. A comes to the company with a diverse background as a trained researcher in Chinese political economy and management, and as a former Danish civil servant working with business policies and international affairs.

B – Co-founder and CTO, holds a PhD degree with material chemistry and computational chemistry background from University of Copenhagen. B has joined the project since the beginning of 2022, since then he has been in charge of the R&D activities and co-leading the commercialization.

C – Co-founder and CPO, holds a PhD in micro-scale vat-photopolymerization additive manufacturing from the Additive Manufacturing Group at the Technical University of Denmark. C’s expertise lies in optimizing the entire resin-based 3D printing process chain, encompassing design, material selection, process, post-processing, characterization, and technological deployment. C has completed a MSc at DTU in Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, with a major in polymer processing and smart materials. C also holds two BScs in Industrial Engineering and Management.