3D Formtech and Weeefiner Building The future of the Circular Economy as Part of 3D Printing

3D Formtech and Weeefiner, a technology company specialising in material recovery and innovative water treatment, have started working together to improve the recycling of printing materials. The aim is to develop ways to use recycled materials in 3D printing more efficiently – even to the point where a full 100% of the waste material generated in production can be reused.

For 3D Formtech, working with Weeefiner is an excellent opportunity to showcase the potential of 3D printing to minimise material waste while supporting environmentally friendly business models.

“While traditional manufacturing methods involve cutting or shaping material to make a part, 3D printing is based on adding material only where needed, with no wasted material. This is why 3D printing is inherently a sustainable manufacturing method,” explains Toni Järvitalo from 3D Formtech.

“Together, we can promote an industrial transformation towards more sustainable, resource-saving solutions that align with the principles of the circular economy. We want 3D Formtech to be a leader in responsible 3D printing in sustainable development,” Järvitalo continues.

3D printing also plays an essential role in Weeefiner’s business and in the production of material recovery and water treatment solutions for industrial needs. Weeefiner produces solutions tailored to the needs of industry to improve material efficiency, particularly in the mining, process, and chemical industries, by recovering valuable materials while purifying water.

“Offering sustainable and circular economy-based solutions is our core business, but we also want to improve the sustainability of our own production processes and reduce our carbon footprint,” says Mikko Hänninen, CEO of Weeefiner.

Weeefiner has also partnered with 3D Formtech in a customer role: the porous filter-like 4D Scavengers® used in Weeefiner’s solutions are made by 3D printing from mixtures of binders and chemically active materials.

“Collaboration with 3D Formtech allows us to utilize recycled materials in our processes, potentially leading to almost all ingredients used in 4D Scavenger® production coming from reuse. Additionally, the carbon-reducing and climate-neutral materials used by 3D Formtech make this reuse even carbon-negative,” says Hänninen.

Weeefiner is a Jyväskylä-based technology company founded in 2017. The company specializes in innovative water treatment and material recovery solutions. The goal is to challenge traditional water treatment methods and promote the circular economy by providing sustainable and groundbreaking solutions to industrial water treatment challenges.