by Prototal Industries | Jul 4, 2022 | News
Acquisition of the Swedish company ToBe Teknik AB
Through the acquisition of the Swedish company ToBe Teknik AB, Prototal further strengthens its capacity in injection molding of plastic components.
Today, Prototal Industries announced the acquisition of the Swedish company ToBe Teknik AB. For more than 30 years, ToBe has been a leading producer of plastic components for several different in industries and segments. The company specializes in injection moulding of technically demanding molded goods as well as molded goods with focus on high quality.
ToBe Teknik AB was founded 1991 in Nyköping and has since the start produced plastic parts with high quality. In the spring of 2006, the company moved to Oxelösund and this is where they still operate today. The company has a well-invested production with 16 injection moulding units in the range of 50-650 tons. All units are equipped with robots.
“Strengthens our previously combined capacity”
Jan Löfving, CEO of Prototal Industries:
“We are both very proud and pleased that ToBe now are a part of the Prototal Group. The acquisition strengthens our previously combined capacity and will be a natural part of our business. With this acquisition, we continue our journey for an increased focus on digital production of plastic components – and ToBe adds significant capabilities in real-time monitoring and quality controls to our customers with unbeatable service and local presence.”
Tony Bäckman, VD ToBe Teknik AB, adds:
“It feels great to be a part of the Prototal Group. Prototal as the owner of ToBe will provide our customers with a much broader product and technology platform. In addition, it will also result in an increased level of service in terms of capacity, competence and delivery.”
ToBe Teknik AB is the tenth company to be part of the Prototal Group and the fifth site in Sweden. Prototal offers digital manufacturing of plastic parts with 3D printing, vacuum casting and injection molding. The company has a turnover of € 70 million and more 360 FTEs with headquarters in Jönköping. Prototal has ten sites in six different countries – Sweden, Norway, Denmark, UK, Austria and Italy.
by Prototal Industries | May 24, 2022 | News
New Jet Fusion 5210 3D printer
We are delighted and proud to announce the installation of a new HP Jet Fusion 5210 3D Printer at their site in Jönköping, Sweden. The new Jet Fusion 5210 3D printer will support the beta program for Lubrizol 3D Printing Solutions’ new developed and softer material: ESTANE® 3D M88A TPU. Prototal is selected to be the exclusive beta test site in Europe to offer this differentiated developmental material.
Prototal Industries, Northern Europe’s biggest supplier in 3D printing, vacuum casting, injection moulding and HP Digital Manufacturing Partner, has today announced the installation of a new HP Jet Fusion 5210 3D Printer, as well as the offering of Lubrizol ESTANE® 3D M88A TPU – a material with increased flexibility compared to previous qualities, in collaboration with HP Inc. under the ABMIP program. The material is well-suited for segments such as health & wellness, sport & recreation, and consumer goods & electronics. The material is also skin-contact safe.
“Important in our strive to continue to promote 3D printing as a production method”
Jan Löfving, CEO of Prototal Industries: “We are very proud the be the first manufacturer in Europe to be able to offer ESTANE® 3D M88A TPU to the market. With this, we expand our range of materials to the customer, as well as introducing a great material to the European market. The new material, in combination with the investment in a new HP Jet Fusion 5210 3D printer, aligns perfectly with our future goals for growth in 3D printing within both new and existing segments. It is also important in our strive to continue to promote 3D printing as a production method.”
The HP Jet Fusion 5210 in Jönköping will complement Prototal’s existing machine park of over 80 professional AM-systems, among them already 7 MJF machines within the group.
by Prototal Industries | Apr 12, 2022 | News
Renowned worldwide for manufacturing high performance polymer components with unmatched quality standards, Prototal Industries is the preferred additive manufacturing supplier for thousands of customers in the aerospace, motorsport, automotive, medical and industrial sectors globally.
“We are delighted to have added the Roboze technology to our additive manufacturing offering. The potential this machine has to disrupt the polymer and metal additive manufacturing divide is vast and we can’t wait to share the benefits of this with our customers. Being part of the 3D parts network also allows us to have a great technical partnership with Roboze and collaboratively educate the UK market.” says Martin Nottingham, Managing Director at Prototal UK.
The Roboze 3D Parts network is composed of certified centers spread throughout the world, which have decided to support the Roboze Distributed Manufacturing model. Through the dedicated digital platform, demand connects directly with supply using an on-demand and just in time additive manufacturing service, avoiding waste, reducing shipments and CO2 emissions, and bringing the value of production back to the point of use.
Proud to have our first Roboze ARGO 500
“This is a great time for Roboze! Gaining the trust of a player like Prototal adds great enthusiasm for the team and for the entire Roboze 3D Parts network” says Giancarlo Scianatico, Roboze EMEA Business Director and adds:
”Their experience will allow us to scale our model even further and quickly reach the goal of digital transition and sustainability of producers around the world. A new way of doing things is possible and with Prototal this is now more concrete than ever!”
“We are extremely proud to have our first Roboze ARGO 500 on site and be the first UK service provider to do so. We recognize the Roboze technological ecosystem as a strong enabler of the Manufacturing as a Service model. As the first adopter of Roboze in the Prototal family, we are very excited to see what the future holds” concludes Martin.
by Prototal Industries | Mar 11, 2022 | News, Sustainability
The P 500, in combination with the new material, will enable a more efficient and sustainable way to serial additive manufacturing.
Prototal Industries, Northern Europe´s biggest supplier in 3D printing, vacuum casting and injection molding, has announced the installation of a state-of-the-art EOS P 500 system as well as the 100% biobased material – PA11. This P 500 system in Ystad will complement Prototal’s existing machine park of over 80 professional AM-systems, among them already two P 500 systems at 1zu1 in Austria. The P500 will be completely dedicated to serial production in the material PA11.
Jan Löfving, CEO of Prototal Industries: “For us, this is a strategic investment. The modular platform design will bring immediate operational and throughput benefits to Prototal customers, but also aligns perfectly with our future goals in Europe for industrialized 3D printing. We will, as a pilot, process the high-performance polyamide PA11.”
PA100 – high performance, 100% bio-based polyamide
The high-performance plastic polyamide 11 (PA11) is made from 100% renewable castor beans and the material has good chemical resistant. Strength and durability are two key benefits that make the material ideal for functional parts. High ductility is a major benefit too, offering excellent impact resistance for parts in applications like automotive or aerospace, as well as other manufactured parts that must hold up to rigorous use like protection equipment for sports. The trademark properties of PA11 include lightweight, flexibility, durability and overall toughness.
Jan Löfving, CEO of Prototal Industries: “It suited us perfectly to use PA11 with the investment of the P500. For us, this is extremely important, because we are taking a huge step on the journey to a more sustainable future. The PA11 is one step in the right direction, and this will enable sustainable, serial additive manufacturing.”
The EOS P 500 enables Prototal to mass produce parts through its powerful 70W twin lasers and ability to apply and compact the polymer material at up to 0.6 m/s on the build platform. The P 500 excels in its high speed without compromising process stability or part quality thanks to sophisticated temperature management, which improves manufactured parts’ dimensional accuracy, material properties, and homogeneity.
As a growing company determined to substantiate its position as a market leader in Europe, Prototal is focused both on continued innovation and sustainability. The EOS P 500 and PA11 is not only extremely efficient at processing build jobs, but also very energy efficient.
Jan Löfving, CEO of Prototal Industries: “It’s effective, energy-efficient, and perfectly aligned with our growth strategy and future goals.”
by Prototal Industries | Jan 19, 2022 | 3D Printing, News
New partner network connects start-ups.
mid-sized companies and OEM’s with certified member manufacturers to bring 3D printed parts to market at speed and in high quality volumes
Prototal Industries, Scandinavia’s largest additive manufacturing company, announced as first member.
EOS, constant innovator, and a leading supplier for responsible manufacturing solutions via industrial 3D printing technology, announced the launch of a new End-To-End Production Network designed to connect companies of all sizes in search for high quality serial additive manufacturing (AM) support with selected, certified EOS partners. Prototal Industries, Scandinavia’s largest and most specialized additive manufacturing company, is the first contract manufacturer to join the network.
With this EOS expands its already existing contract manufacturing network with the much-needed end-to-end production component. To become a partner in this network, companies run through a certification process where the end-to-end capabilities are the key criteria. From part design, to design optimization for AM, manufacturing capabilities, pre- and post-processing including surface treatment, to quality assurance and assembly to create high-end final parts in series. The certified EOS partners have proven excellence in all production steps.
Companies joining the new EOS network have a deep understanding of serial production requirements and have proven excellence in all production steps. As such, the enable those in search for a partner to realize serial additive manufacturing (AM) on an industrial scale and across a wide range of industries with the ability to scale further.
Finding the right partner for serial AM solutions
From start-up businesses, to SME and OEM organizations, bringing products to life at scale can be a demanding experience, particularly if working in a certified industry or wanting high volume production that does not compromise on the quality of the final product, or global distribution.
Once the right AM solution is identified, one of the biggest hurdles can be finding the right manufacturing method and deciding how to organize part production. EOS not only enables companies by identifying the best application and technology framework, but also consults companies on in-house vs. external production. If a third-party production partner is the best choice, then there are other important considerations. Businesses not only need partners that are solidly positioned and can produce high-quality 3D-printed parts at scale, but which also share the end-customer commitment to creating the right product and have the experience needed to bring products to the market.
EOS end-to-end production network partners will be able to help companies mitigate these risks and move rapidly to final serial part production on a large scale. Members will be able to bring their expertise from a range of manufacturing technologies to help them ramp-up production at speed, ensuring quality standards throughout and support every aspect of an end-to-end production.
Markus Glasser, Senior Vice President EMEA at EOS, said: “With more than 30 years of experience in offering comprehensive additive manufacturing solutions, EOS understands market requirements for AM series production. With this network we want to create added value for both parties involved – those offering manufacturing services and those in search for it.” He goes on to say: “This will take much of the complexity and risk out of choosing a manufacturing partner for serial production businesses, with the most innovate product designs. They will be able to bring products to market faster, using the latest state-of-the-art 3D printing technology, and draw on the vertical industry expertise and know-how within the network”.
There are many industry standards and assessments designed to give customers confidence in a manufacturer’s capabilities, but they normally place the burden of research on the company in need of the parts. Customers choosing to work with members of the EOS End-to-End Production Network will have the confidence that each manufacturing partner has been assessed by EOS against criteria that not only verify their financial security and competence, but that they have leading industry and application know-how, particularly for heavily certified industries such as aviation, automotive and medical devices.
Prototal Industries: first certified member of EOS End-To-End Production Network
The first member of the EOS End-To-End Production Network is Prototal, Northern Europe’s biggest supplier in industrial 3D printing, vacuum casting, aluminium tools, and injection moulding. The company has been an EOS customer for more than 20 years. With its longstanding AM expertise and more than 50 EOS polymer systems on-sight, Prototal offers end-to-end additive manufacturing capabilities for large scale serial production and to demanding and highly regulated industries such as aerospace, medical or automotive, to name but a few.
Jan Löfving, CEO at Prototal Industries, said: “It is with great pride that we become the first member of the EOS End-To-End Production Network. At our various sites across Europe Prototal Industries for many years has built up the competence and the knowledge in how to additively manufacture larger series. The future looks bright for the technology in terms of even further developments in automation and more sustainable production, 3D-Printing really is a production method offering great benefits. And EOS is one of our most valuable partners.”
The network initially will be set up in EMEA. It will grow within the next months. Stay tuned.
by Prototal Industries | Nov 17, 2021 | News
The Austrian based company is the market leader.
The Austrian based company is the market leader within the areas of Additive Manufacturing, Rapid Tools, Injection Molding and Vacuum Casting.
Today Prototal Industries announced the acquisition of 1zu1, one of Europe’s leading players in prototype and low-volume manufacturing in polymers. The company offers an impressive array of products and services supported by most innovative technologies and comprehensive expertise, all hosted in state-of-the-art facilities in the city of Dornbirn.
1zu1 have been working successfully in the DACH region since 1996 and brings twenty-five years of industry expertise into the Prototal group. They will contribute to an increase of capacity and technical leadership.
The company is on the forefront in additive manufacturing with groundbreaking laser sintering processes that offers superior finish, accuracy, quality control as well as productivity which will enable new applications.
“A great fit for our family of brands”
Commenting on the deal, Jan Löfving, CEO of Prototal, said: “We are very happy and excited to welcome 1zu1 to our group. Additive manufacturing and rapid production of injection molding tools has been a market constantly growing and innovating, and Prototal has made several acquisitions to consolidate its position and expand its offering. 1zu1 offers a wide range of technologies, very similar to the ones available in Jönköping, that will strengthen the competence within the group. 1zu1 has been at the forefront of this market for twenty-five years, is a great fit for our family of brands, and will benefit all customers. The acquisition should be seen as a clear signal to the market of Prototal’s intention to actively develop the polymer market, both in the region and globally.”
1zu1 and its strong and dedicated team will continue to be led by the two current Managing Directors Wolfgang Humml and Hannes Hämmerle.
Managing Director Hannes Hämmerle says: “It’s with great pride that we join the Prototal family. This is an exciting opportunity for both 1zu1 and our customers. Working in an industry that is constantly experimenting with new materials and production techniques calls for true pioneering spirit. This is something that’s very important for 1zu1, and we know that Prototal share that view. We strongly believe in the vision and highly appreciate their skills in the world of manufacturing of polymeric parts.”
About 1zu1
Wolfgang Humml and Hannes Hämmerle founded the company in 1996, renaming it 1zu1 Prototypes in 2002. At the outset, the company comprised a 250 square-meter production area, two employees and two vacuum-casting machines. By 2017, a team of around 140 skilled workers plus 30 apprentices generated sales of approximately 18 million euros. Today, 1zu1 occupies a total area of 6000 square meters, have a state of the art factory and 160 employees. The Austrian company have customers both national and international.