Essentium

Essentium is a company specializing in industrial-scale additive manufacturing solutions. Founded as a materials company, Essentium later expanded into hardware development. The company's flagship product is the High Speed Extrusion (HSE) 3D printing platform, which offers high-speed production capabilities for thermoplastic components. The HSE technology is designed to deliver breakthrough throughput with high part quality for use in major industrial markets such as automotive, aerospace, and defense.

Essentium's HSE 3D printers feature a true independent dual extrusion system (IDEX) that provides an open platform with precision control over printing conditions. The company's latest HSE model, introduced in November 2019, can reach nozzle temperatures of up to 550°C and is compatible with a wide range of materials, including high-temperature polymers like PEEK and nylon. Essentium has developed an extensive line of filaments, including recycled materials and carbon fiber-filled formulations, to cater to various industrial applications.

In addition to its polymer-based technologies, Essentium has been developing a wire-based directed energy deposition (DED) metal 3D printing technology, announced in 2021. The company has built multiple systems and is working on refining the technology's capabilities in grain boundaries, microstructure, and metallurgy to meet demanding applications and environments.

Key customers and partnerships

Essentium has made significant inroads in the defense sector, with the majority of its revenue in recent years coming from adoption in this space. The company has ongoing collaborative efforts with the US Air Force to develop its metal 3D printing technology.

Essentium has also partnered with NUBURU, a specialist in high-power and high-brightness industrial blue laser technology. In June 2023, NUBURU delivered multiple units to Essentium as part of a multi-year, multi-million-dollar agreement to develop and manufacture a blue laser-based 3D printing platform. This technology integration is expected to drive growth across new applications and markets for Essentium.