February 5, 2025 Sustainability Expert Insights with Industry Experts Pierre Gonnetan & Krysten Minnici.
In Episode 5 of our insightful video mini-series, we were joined by Pierre Gonnetan, Global Business Manager – 3D Printing, and Krysten Minnici, Business Development – 3D Printing, from Arkema. This mini-series, produced in collaboration with MANSUS, continues to bring you exclusive insights from industry leaders, showcasing sustainable, innovative, and cost-effective solutions in additive manufacturing.
Visit our blog to view the entire series. In our previous episode, Edvin Resebo, CEO of AMEXCI, shares how the company is driving sustainability through strategic collaboration, optimizing resources, and a forward-thinking approach.
Arkema’s 3D Printing Solutions
Arkema operates in over 55 countries and employs more than 20,000 people worldwide, generating a turnover of approximately $10 billion. The company aims to shape a more sustainable world through specialty materials and technological expertise. As a leading producer of specialty materials, Arkema’s 3D Printing solutions encompass three categories of technology: UV resins for photocuring technologies (UV and LED), powders for Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) technology, and granules for material extrusion.
Aesthetic Parts and Reduced Cost of Ownership
At Formnext’s 2024 Expo and Convention, Arkema announced the Orgasol® Polyamide 12 (PA12) powders, designed specifically for Powder Bed Fusion technologies (PBF).
“Orgasol PA12 enables the reuse of 80 – 90% of the initial product, reducing waste and costs per part. The material’s high recyclability and nesting optimization contribute to lower variable and overall printing costs. Manufacturers can produce aesthetically pleasing parts while lowering costs and processing times,” attests Gonnetan.
In collaboration with HP, Arkema enabled the HP ED HRPA12S with its Orgasul PA12. Creating a smooth surface, lowering the total cost of ownership while maintaining quality and sustainability standards in additive manufacturing. PA12 is used by many sectors including cycling, automotive, aeronautics, and defense.
Polyamide 11 (PA11) High Performance Sustainable Material
Polyamide 11 (PA11) is a high-performance biobased polymer sourced entirely from renewable materials. This product is often selected as an additive manufacturing material due to its ability to create finer detailed resolutions, durability, design flexibility, and sustainability.
“Arkema partnered with Forward AM to incorporate their carbon fiber reinforced powder, Ultrasint® PA11 Black CF,” says Gonnetan. “Resulting in a lighter computer bike mount for Canyon Bikes. The mount was 50% lighter than the original, improving stability and functionality while maintaining computer compatibility.”
Commitment to Global Biobased Sustainability
Arkema approaches global sustainability with a focus on carbon emission reduction and minimizing material usage.
“As the largest provider of Polyamide11 (PA11), we are excited to announce our new carbon footprint for global production, applying to all grades,” states Krysten Minnici. “Our carbon footprint is 1.3 kilograms of CO2 equivalent per kilogram of PA11. We have achieved this through biobased sourcing from castor beans, renewable energy sources, and process efficiency. This is exciting because customers are seeking more options for sustainable materials, and we are happy that we can supply PA11 in additive manufacturing.”
Arkema’s Virtucycle Recycling Program helps address PA11 and PA 12 powders’ end-of-life cycle, creating a recycling loop. Injected or extruded scraps, powders, and parts are collected, analyzed, and recomposed for reuse in injection molding, and extrusion by customers across varying industries who wish to use partially recycled materials.
Arkema is one of the few chemical companies in the world to have its decarbonization roadmap validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Arkema’s goal is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 48.5% for Scopes 1 and 2 and by 54% for Scope 3 by 2030.
The Power of Collaboration
“Collaboration is key to ensuring sustainability is prioritized at every stage of the value chain,” says Pierre. “Collaboration is a way for us to bring together experts with diverse perspectives, allowing Arkema to develop not only high-performing solutions but also highly recyclable ones. This approach ensures that we align with our company’s goals for a circular economy.”
AM helps tackle logistical issues by promoting local decentralized production, waste reduction, and the reusability of materials in PBF technologies. “Sustainability is difficult to tackle alone and being a member of the Additive Manufacturer Trade Association (AMGTA) provides a space to collaborate and tackle industry challenges with like-minded companies,” says Minnici.
Standardizing Carbon Emissions with AMGTA
Krysten highlighted the AMGTA’s role in standardizing carbon emissions calculations. “AMGTA is doing an excellent job of defining the scope for assessing carbon emissions across various processes. Each additive manufacturing process presents unique challenges, including the types of raw materials used and energy consumption during printing, which can vary significantly from country to country. Sherri and the team at AMGTA are effectively creating committees to help standardize the calculation of carbon emission values for both polymer bed fusion and metal processes. This collaborative effort will help establish clearer industry standards.”
Innovative Digital Platform
Arkema is committed to educating AM users and enthusiasts around the world. Through their Easy3D online platform, users can input requirements related to mechanical performance, chemical resistance, and part production quantities. The platform provides tailored material recommendations and quotes from manufacturing partners offering 3D printing services, guiding users from design to delivery.
Follow the complete series on our website or the MANSUS YouTube channel.
