BASF is expanding its 3D printing activities by strengthening the market presence in the area of powder bed fusion with new products and formulations (photo: BASF)

BASF acquires two manufacturers of 3D printing materials


Companies / Markets

BASF New Business GmbH (BNB; Ludwigshafen, Germany) has acquired all the shares of Advanc3D Materials GmbH in Hamburg and Setup Performance SAS in Lyon. Advanc3D Materials offers advanced, tailor-made plastic powders and formulations for selective laser sintering (SLS) together with process knowhow. Setup Performance, which operates a production site in Lyon, is Advanc3D Materials’ most important partner in the development and manufacture of SLS materials. BNB is integrating both companies into its subsidiary BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH (B3DPS). The acquisition is an important step forward for BASF in its expansion in the field of 3D printing.

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Christian Uhl, CEO of Smartrac (photo: Smartrac)

Alibaba invests in Smartrac to enhance brand protection


Companies / Markets

The Smartrac Technology Group (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) recently announced that the Chinese e-commerce and retail provider Alibaba Group will invest in the company, reinforcing both parties’ commitment to strengthening brand protection strategies. Michael Evans, president of Alibaba Group, will join Smartrac’s supervisory board.

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Visual indicators for smart labels are a major application of Ynvisible’s technology (photo: Ynvisible)

Ynvisible granted patent for specialised electrolyte and electrochromic system


Products

Ynvisible Interactive Inc. (Vancouver, Canada), a company that specialises in creating ultra-low power displays for printed electronics, has been granted an EU patent for a specialised electrolyte formulation that allows for the integration of electrochromic inks directly into the electrolyte layers. This formulation offers a reduction in the overall number of ink layers required to produce electrochromic devices, substantially increasing manufacturing efficiency.

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Kai Beckmann, CEO of Merck Performance Materials (photo: Merck)

Merck Performance Materials updates strategy


Companies / Markets

Merck (Darmstadt, Germany), a leading science and technology company, recently presented its strategy to secure the future prospects of Performance Materials. The business sector comprises the specialty chemicals business of Merck and supplies solutions for displays, computer chips and surfaces of every kind. After 2019, Merck expects Performance Materials to resume earnings growth.

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Harald Renner, CFO of OSRAM Continental (left) and Dirk Linzmeier, CEO of OSRAM Continental (photo: Continental)

OSRAM Continental joint venture commences operations


Companies / Markets

As of now, the OSRAM Continental GmbH joint venture, set up by the two technology companies Continental and Osram, is up and running. Following the successful completion of all negotiations and the issuance of merger control approvals, the joint venture has been launched as planned in the second half of 2018.

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