RAM Launch Image
The leadership teams behind the Reactive Additive Manufacturing (RAM) system gather at the launch event including (from left) Craig Blue, Bill Peter, Moe Khaleel, Rick Pauer, Andrew Hedger, Mike Kastura, Bob Vanderhoff, Steve Voeks, Mark Adams, Vlastimil Kunc.

Knoxville, Tenn., September 18, 2019 – Magnum Venus Products (MVP), a leading manufacturer of composites application equipment, collaborated with Polynt and the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to deploy the first large-scale reactive polymer additive manufacturing system commercially available to industry. MVP’s Reactive Additive Manufacturing (RAM) machine, first announced in March, and Polynt’s Reactive Additive Deposition (PRD1520) material together are reimagining additive manufacturing to enable fabrication of thermoset materials at large-scale.

To showcase the new additive technology, Polynt and MVP co-hosted a launch event on September 17 for industry leaders and partners to experience the system at DOE’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at ORNL. The event offered live demonstrations and discussions with the research team behind the RAM machine and PRD1520 material.

“We are excited to pave the way for reactive additive manufacturing and continue to deploy innovative solutions to meet market demands”, said Bob Vanderhoff, president & CEO of MVP. “This is a transformative technology enabling us to reach new markets and empowering our customers to deliver higher quality products with increased manufacturing efficiencies.”  

While thermoplastic materials have become the norm in additive manufacturing, this unique thermoset technology has the potential to revolutionize additive manufacturing and meet demands for stronger, more cost-effective solutions while remaining energy efficient. The thermoset advantage lies in the cross-linking of polymers between printed layers resulting in stronger, more thermo-tolerant products. By collaborating with ORNL, MVP was able to scale up the technology from a benchtop solution to a commercially ready machine.

“We are pleased at the success of this project and its potential for a wide range of applications in advanced manufacturing,” said Moe Khaleel, associate laboratory director for Energy and Environmental Sciences at ORNL. “Such partnerships ensure ORNL’s research has the widest possible impact in support of a strong, prosperous economy.”

Polynt’s PRD 1520 is a specifically formulated reactive monomer material developed for use in the MVP RAM machine. The material boasts superior interlaminar adhesion, exceptional machinability, and high heat distortion temperature compatible with aerospace grade tooling application. “As a technology leader for materials development, we are continually collaborating with industry experts to anticipate market demands and innovate resin systems that meet and exceed customer expectations,” said Steve Voeks, R&D manager Americas, Polynt.  

MVP and Polynt are leading demonstrations at CAMX 2019, September 23 – 26 in Anaheim, California, to showcase this technology and more processes for working smarter, faster, and more efficiently.

About Magnum Venus Products (MVP):

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Magnum Venus Products (MVP) is the premiere manufacturer of composite application equipment including pumping systems, spray guns, large-scale 3D printers, and filament winding systems to serve manufacturers in automotive, aerospace, transportation, marine, oil and gas, and wind industries. Along with systems designed for composite application, MVP provides consultative solutions and equipment to support the foam and polyurethane industries including poly-ureas, adhesives, and epoxies. For more information, please visit www.www.mvpind.com.

About Polynt:

Polynt-Reichhold Group is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of specialties, intermediates and composites for the industrial, transportation, building and construction, marine, medical, consumer and food additive markets. Polynt-Reichhold Group has 37 manufacturing operations throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia. www.polynt.com

About Oak Ridge National Laboratory:

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ORNL is managed by UT-Battelle for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. DOE’s Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit https://energy.gov/science.

Learn more about RAM

Read more in the Knoxville News Sentinel.

  • Attendees had a front row seat to view the world’s first large-scale reactive polymer printer, now commercially available to the industry.
  • Tour groups enjoyed discussing RAM technology with experts from MVP, Polynt, and ORNL during the launch event on Tuesday, September 17.
  • The RAM machine is enabling large-scale 3D printing of thermoset materials with increased strength, improved thermal properties, and more energy savings than ever before in additive manufacturing.