Forward AM, the additive manufacturing arm of BASF, has received TÜV Rheinland certification for a 3D printing process that manufactures end parts for food contact applications.
Certification of the manufacturing process was initiated by a joint project with Replique, a venture born out of BASF’s Chemovator business incubator, and German home appliance manufacturer Miele.
Having considered the entire manufacturing process from material production through to end parts and packaging, The TÜV certification will enable Forward AM to produce 3D printed parts for safe use within the food industry.
“With TÜV Rheinland certification we are closing a critical gap in the additive manufacturing of parts intended for food contact,” said Christian Reinhardt, Business Development Manager at BASF 3D Printing Solutions. “This holistic solution means we are now able to offer our customers the production of officially safe food-contact parts.”
“What’s more, this certification confirms forward am’s aspiration to become the food industry’s leading consultancy and supplier for the manufacture of 3d printed food-contact parts.”
Project 3D4U
The TÜV certification was initiated by a joint project with Replique and its customer, Miele, who have been working together to produce and ship 3D printed accessories via Miele’s online shop since June. The partners implemented a GMP for the 3D printing of polymer parts for food contact applications, beginning with a coffee clip, borehole cleaner, and a valuable separator for vacuum cleaner attachments.
Through Project 3D4U, Replique’s 3D printing platform has been integrated into Miele’s online shop to fulfill orders for 3D printed parts, which are then manufactured using desktop 3D printers from Barcelona-based BCN3D and Forward AM’s compliant filaments.
The 3D printed food contact-safe products are 3D printed in accordance with GMP TÜV-certified quality, confirming the strict product quality control and process reliability of the partners’ additive manufacturing process for applications in the food sector.
