eCAPITAL invests in Willich-based new materials start-up AM POLYMERS
eCAPITAL NEWSSeveral thermoplastics are not yet commercially available in a wide and diverse range for Additive Manufacturing (3D printing), whereby large potential users of Additive Manufacturing cannot yet be addressed. AM POLYMERS is redesigning standard thermoplastics and producing powders for Additive Manufacturing that not only meet the technical specifications but are also easy to process. Thus, the company is addressing the needs of companies in the Additive Manufacturing space for special chemical requirements, mechanical performance, flexibility and/or elongation at break combined with a good processability. AM POLYMERS is able to manufacture polymer powders with such properties that the characteristics of the final components are equivalent to those achieved by traditional production techniques with chemically the same material.
The overall market of Additive Manufacturing and in particular the sub-market for standard and technical polymer materials offers enormous growth potential in the next few years. With rapid advancements in material compositions, especially polymers and metals, Additive Manufacturing technology is evolving from being a method for prototyping to a functional part of industrial fabrication. Ultimately, AM POLYMERS sets the fundament for utilizing Additive Manufacturing in small series production.
An extended material portfolio of plastic materials for the powder bed fusion processes is the basic requirement for the further establishment of additive manufacturing as a series production method.
Dr. -Ing Andreas Wegner (CEO at AM POLYMERS)
eCAPITAL, as a leading independent venture capitalist based in Germany, focused on AM POLYMERS’ new material knowledge and USPs in the Additive Manufacturing space and invested out of its eCAPITAL technology fund IV.
“The competences of AM POLYMERS and its founders provide a deep know-how base, which ranges from the chemical formulation of polymers over powder production methodology to process excellence in laser sintering and powder bed fusion. As a start-up in the new materials sector, AM POLYMERS is a perfect fit with eCAPITAL IV and we look forward to supporting the company and taking the next steps together with the founders”, says Hannes Schill, Partner at eCAPITAL.
About AM POLYMERS
AM POLYMERS was founded as a spin-off of the University of Duisburg-Essen in 2014 by Dr.-Ing. Andreas Wegner and Prof. Dr.-Ing Gerd Witt, while Co-Founder Dipl.-Ing. Timur Ünlü joined the team as shareholder and managing director in 2018. AM POLYMERS produces and sells qualified plastic powders for industrial additive manufacturing (3D printing). More precisely, the company offers traditional standard plastics, which are known from injection moulding and therefore essential for additive manufacturing. AM POLYMERS’ products meet the necessary chemical requirements, mechanical performance, flexibility and/or elongation at break combined with a good processability, which are in demand by the market.
About eCAPITAL
eCAPITAL is a venture capital firm that provides early to growth stage funding to technology companies in the fields of software & information technology, cybersecurity, industry 4.0, new materials and cleantech. Founded in 1999, eCAPITAL has a history of supporting entrepreneurs determined to build companies with lasting significance. Partnering with eCAPITAL means joining an international network of business leaders, entrepreneurs, technologists and potential partners. eCAPITAL is located in Germany, currently manages funds with over EUR 220 million under management and was lead investor of some very successful German exits like sonnen or Novaled.
Contact
AM POLYMERS GmbH
Dr.-Ing. Andreas Wegner
Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Straße 9e
47877 Willich, Germany
Tel.: +49 203 306 488 0
eMail: info@am-polymer-research.de
www.am-polymers.de
eCAPITAL ENTREPRENEURIAL PARTNERS AG
Sylvia Richter
Hafenweg 24
48155 Münster, Germany
Tel.: +49 251 70 37 67 0
eMail: info@ecapital.vc
www.ecapital.vc