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Copper3D

MaterialsSantiago, ChileFounded 2017· One of 961 Materials companies tracked by AMPulse

Develops and supplies patented, antibacterial nanocomposite materials for 3D printing, designed to reduce infections and save lives.

CEO / Founder
Andrés Acuña Velásquez
Team Size
11-50
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$5M
Latest Round
Grant
Key Investors
Start-Up Chile, Corfo, NASA

Technology & Products

Key Products

PLACTIVE (antibacterial PLA polymer with nano-copper additive), Glaciarys AR3 (antiviral, biocompatible 3D printing resin), NanoClean MD (PET-G nanocomposite with nano-copper).

Technological Advantage

The material's antibacterial properties are scientifically validated to eliminate over 99.99% of fungi, viruses, and bacteria. This provides a significant advantage in medical and high-contact applications where sterility and infection control are critical.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Providing scientifically validated, fully antibacterial 3D printing materials that actively eliminate microorganisms, reducing the risk of infections from 3D printed objects.

How They Differentiate

Copper3D's primary differentiator is its use of a patented copper-based nanocomposite that provides active, scientifically-proven antimicrobial properties, as opposed to competitors who may offer materials that are merely sterilizable or use different antibacterial agents.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Medical device manufacturers, hospitals, prosthetic and orthotic clinics, research institutions, and industries requiring antimicrobial surfaces.

Industry Verticals

["Medical & Healthcare","Animal Care","Food Industry","Consumer Products","Aerospace"]

Competitors

3D Systems Corporation, EnvisionTEC, Formlabs, Copptech.

Growth & Milestones

Major Milestones

["Development and patenting of their antibacterial nanocomposite technology.","Scientific validation of materials against a wide range of microorganisms, including viruses.","Received a grant from NASA to test antimicrobial 3D printing for space missions.","Launched a range of materials including PLA, TPU, and PETG-based filaments."]

Notable Customers

NASA

https://copper3d.com

Why this company matters

Copper3D occupies a niche position in additive manufacturing materials by focusing exclusively on active antimicrobial properties. Its core innovation is a patented copper-based nanocomposite additive integrated into standard 3D printing filaments and resins, making the final printed object inherently antibacterial without requiring post-processing coatings or sterilization steps.

The company's product line includes PLACTIVE, an antibacterial PLA filament with nano-copper; Glaciarys AR3, an antiviral and biocompatible resin; and NanoClean MD, a PET-G nanocomposite. These materials are scientifically validated to eliminate over 99.99% of fungi, viruses, and bacteria, targeting applications where infection control is critical.

Primary customers include medical device manufacturers, hospitals, prosthetic and orthotic clinics, and research institutions. Copper3D has worked with NASA to test antimicrobial materials for the International Space Station, and has received support from Start-Up Chile and the Chilean Economic Development Agency Corfo. The company is based in Santiago, Chile, and was founded in 2018.

Copper3D differentiates from competitors such as 3D Systems, Formlabs, and EnvisionTEC by offering active antimicrobial properties rather than materials that are merely sterilizable. Its copper nanocomposite approach provides a built-in defense against microbial growth, which is relevant for high-contact consumer products, food industry equipment, and aerospace components. The company has raised approximately $5 million in funding.