Stratasys Ltd. has sealed a partnership with Japanese chemical company Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. that paved the way for the development a new high-performance material.

Exclusively designed for the Stratasys Origin DLP platform, the new P3 Silicone 25A is a general-purpose silicone that enables production of flexible parts that match the performance of traditionally molded silicone.

What is Industrial 3D Printing?

Industrial 3D printing, otherwise known as additive manufacturing (AM), is the use of 3D printing technology for the production of parts in industrial settings, often for functional prototypes, tooling, and end-use parts.

The process is where 3D objects are built layer by layer from a digital design, that is, a computer-aided design (CAD). After the creation of a 3D model, often by a CAD, the 3D model is sliced into thin, horizontal layers. Based on this sliced data, the role of 3D printers come, which builds the object layer by layer, using materials like plastic, metal, or resin. Furthermore, the process, which have been gaining popularity in recent years, is the opposite of the traditional or subtractive manufacturing.

Stratasys is one of the companies that provides industrial-grade 3D printers and solutions for various applications, utilizing different 3D printing technologies.

Production-Grade Technology, Expertise

Currently, industrial 3D printing faces some challenges. One of them is the need for genuine silicone parts that offer precision, durability, and repeatability without the time and cost constraints of injection molding.

For that reason, the new material from Stratasys and Shin-Etsu collaboration addresses that longstanding gap in the industrial 3D printing sphere. Specifically, the P3 Silicone 25A delivers the chemical resistance, thermal stability, and mechanical behavior of conventional silicones. Moreover, it is also enabling manufacturers to eliminate tooling, reduce lead times, and support localized, low-volume production.

Additionally, the material has been validated in thermal aging tests up to 1,000 hours at 150°C and passed biocompatibility and flame retardancy certification.

As manufacturers seek to customize products, streamline inventory, and accelerate time to market, silicone has become essential for applications such as seals, gaskets, vibration dampers, wearables, and soft-touch components. Until now, few 3D printing materials have matched the performance of traditionally molded silicones. P3 Silicone 25A brings together Stratasys’ production-grade P3 DLP technology and Shin-Etsu’s expertise in silicone chemistry to deliver a robust solution for end-use silicone parts.

The launch also marks the first in a planned portfolio of silicone materials co-developed by Stratasys and Shin-Etsu.

In essence, the new material combines true silicone performance with precision 3D printing to meet demanding needs in various fields. Among them, in the automotive, healthcare, consumer goods, and industrial goods.

16 July 2025