Nexeo Solutions Expands Partnership with Natureworks to Introduce Ingeo 3D Printing Filaments

November 6, 2017 at 8:00 AM EST

Nexeo 3D now features Polylactic Acid (PLA) filament based on Ingeo 3D870, the new, innovative fused-filament-fabrication grade from NatureWorks

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, November 6, 2017 – Nexeo Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:NXEO), a leading global chemicals and plastics distributor, announced today it is broadening its PLA offering from NatureWorks to include made-in-the-USA Ingeo™ 3D printing filaments. The addition expands its 3D offering which already includes specialty nylons, polyesters, and thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs).

As of today, Nexeo Solutions is one of the only suppliers offering 3D printing integrated solutions that meet the high standard requirements of any industry. Our Applications Development Engineers can provide material selection assistance to any customer. Some of our typical service offerings include:

• Guidance on design optimization (i.e., use less material to reduce weight and cost or reduce warpage with small design adjustments)
• Printing tips and tricks
• Support on making the right material choice
• Offering a wide range of filaments based on materials from leading producers

"We are committed to expanding our portfolio of 3D printing filaments to offer a range of products to a broad base of different customers," said Shawn Williams, Senior Vice President of Plastics at Nexeo Solutions. "Expanding our line of filaments to include those made with renewable resources reinforces our obsession with innovating for our customers."

Taking PLA to the next level of strength and heat resistance, NatureWorks has manufactured its Ingeo-branded PLA from greenhouse gases at global-scale production since 2002. Ingeo 3D870 is the new high-heat, high impact-resistant 3D filament grade from NatureWorks that rivals ABS performance, yet prints with the ease and associated advantages of PLA:

• Filament prints at low temperatures for greater safety and control
• Prints without generation of harsh chemical odors
• Eliminates the need for costly and complex heated build chambers
• Excellent adhesion to build platforms enables precision printing
• Minimal warpage in large parts due to superior interlayer adhesion

Items produced with the Ingeo 3D870 grade exceed ABS fused-filament-fabrication (FFF) parts in impact strength and, with post-print annealing, rival ABS heat resistance. This makes Ingeo 3D870 an ideal choice for simulation of injection molded components and for manufacturing parts like jigs, fixtures, and other durable articles, which often require better impact performance than general purpose PLA. (See accompanying charts.)

Soure: Charts courtesy of NatureWorks

• Annealed for 10-20 min @ 110-120ºC
• Values from literature
• All test bars were 3D printed at 100% infill; For more on orientations of printed part, see the Ingeo 3D870 technical data sheet on www.natureworksllc.com
• 3D870 was tested by Essentium Materials

For applications where improved heat and impact are not required, Nexeo Solutions also distributes Ingeo general-purpose filament. This filament delivers reliable and easy printability at a lower cost than the higher performance grade.

"NatureWorks, the leading global manufacturer of PLA, has worked closely with Nexeo Solutions since 2009," said Hector Mas, Global Manager 3D Printing at Nexeo Solutions. "With the addition of 3D filaments, we are proud to become a single-source supplier for our customers' PLA requirements."

"Close collaboration between Nexeo Solutions and NatureWorks ensures prototypers, and those printing industrially, are uniquely positioned to receive the most advanced 3D printing filament as soon as those new solutions become available," said Dan Sawyer, Business Development Leader at NatureWorks.

High quality Ingeo PLA filaments and other Nexeo FFF solutions are available from the www.nexeo3d.com e-commerce site.

About Nexeo Solutions, Inc.
Nexeo Solutions 3D is a specialized group within Nexeo Solutions that focuses primarily on premium 3D printing solutions for FFF (fused filament fabrication), servicing a broad cross-section of markets, including automotive, industrial, electronics and healthcare among others. Nexeo Solutions 3D Application Development Engineers Team can provide expert guidance to help customers at every stage of their 3D printing adoption process.

Nexeo Solutions is a leading global chemicals and plastics distributor, representing products from world-class producers to a diverse customer base. From product specification to sustainable solutions, the Company goes beyond traditional logistics to provide value-added services across many industries, including chemicals manufacturing, oil and gas, coatings, personal care, healthcare, automotive and 3D printing. The Company leverages a centralized technology platform to identify efficiencies and create solutions to unlock value for suppliers and customers. Learn more at www.nexeosolutions.com.

About NatureWorks LLC
NatureWorks is a world-leading biopolymers supplier and innovator with its Ingeo portfolio of naturally advanced materials made from renewable, abundant feedstocks with performance and economics that compete with oil-based intermediates, plastics, and fibers. These materials also provide brand owners new cradle-to-cradle options after the use of their products.

NatureWorks is jointly owned by Thailand's largest chemical producer, PTT Global Chemical, and Cargill, which provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world.