EMS-GRILTECH
Manufactures high-performance polyamide fibers and specialty chemicals for powder bed fusion (PBF) additive manufacturing, including DuraForm PAx Natural nylon copolymer developed with 3D Systems for selective laser sintering (SLS) printing.
- CEO / Founder
- Magdalena Martullo-Blocher (CEO of EMS Group)
- Team Size
- 201-500
- Stage
- Active
Technology & Products
Key Products
Grilon, Nexylon, Nexylene fibers; Griltex hotmelt adhesives; Grilbond adhesion promoters; Primid crosslinkers; Grilonit® reactive diluents and epoxy-resins. Patents include clad systems, self-brazing materials, and metallic materials. Also, DuraForm® PAx Natural, a novel nylon copolymer developed in partnership with 3D Systems for Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) platforms, offering properties similar to injection molded plastics with high impact resistance and elongation at break.
Technological Advantage
DuraForm PAx Natural delivers 35% faster cycle time and reduced operating temperature vs. competitive SLS nylon materials, directly improving customer unit economics (time-to-part, printer uptime); material properties (high impact resistance, elongation at break, dimensional stability in all directions) enable design freedom comparable to injection molding—unique value proposition for SLS market; established quality standards (ISO 9001, automotive tier certifications); decades of polymer chemistry expertise creating defensible formulations; global supply chain maturity de-risks material continuity for OEM partnerships.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Reduces SLS print cycle time by 35% vs. standard nylon materials (DuraForm PAx Natural); enables lower operating temperatures increasing printer uptime; high-performance material properties (impact resistance, elongation at break, dimensional stability) equivalent to injection-molded plastics; compatible with any commercially-available SLS printer; established supply chain and 26 global production sites ensure reliability and scale.
How They Differentiate
EMS-GRILTECH differentiates itself through its strategic partnership with 3D Systems, which led to the development of DuraForm® PAx Natural. This material is a first-to-market nylon copolymer available for all Selective Laser Sintering platforms, offering lower cost, high recyclability, and properties similar to injection molded plastics with high impact resistance and elongation. Its low operating temperature reduces time to part and increases printer uptime, making it a superior alternative to other nylon materials like PA-11 and PA-12.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
SLS/PBF equipment manufacturers, additive manufacturing service providers, aerospace/defense contractors, automotive OEMs, industrial manufacturers
Industry Verticals
Additive Manufacturing / 3D Printing; Aerospace & Defense; Automotive; Electronics; Textiles; Tire Manufacturing; Powder Coatings; Industrial Applications
Competitors
DuPont de Nemours, Hexion, Penn Color, Colormatrix Group, General Plastics
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
EMS Group (parent) net sales 2025: CHF 1,950M (~$2.1B USD); EBIT 2025: CHF 567M (~$620M USD). Parent company EMS-CHEMIE HOLDING AG market capitalization ~$5.61B (as of 2024). EMS-GRILTECH operates as mature business unit within larger public company; specific unit revenue/EBIT not disclosed separately.
Major Milestones
May 1, 2009: EMS-PRIMID and EMS-GRILTECH merged to form consolidated Business Unit EMS-GRILTECH; June 28, 2022: Strategic partnership with 3D Systems announced for DuraForm PAx Natural nylon copolymer development; 2022-2025: DuraForm PAx Natural adoption grows in SLS market; partnership enables global distribution through 3D Systems channels
Notable Customers
Toyota