Carima targets Southeast Asian moldless manufacturing market at Manufacturing Expo 2026 in Bangkok

Carima, the South Korean vat photopolymerization 3D printing specialist, showcased its moldless manufacturing approach at Manufacturing Expo 2026 (ME2026) in Bangkok, Thailand, from June 17-20. The company demonstrated its C-CAT (Carima Continuous Additive Technology) platform, a continuous vat photopolymerization process designed to improve print speed over conventional layer-by-layer DLP/SLA systems. Carima also presented its dental and medical solutions, including equipment and resins for clear aligners, implant guides, and prosthetics, alongside industrial-grade engineering materials. Lee Yoon-jae, head of overseas sales, emphasized the shift from volume-driven production to on-demand, multi-variant manufacturing as the key driver for additive adoption in the region.

This move targets a specific gap in the AM value chain: the transition from rapid prototyping to low-volume production in markets where traditional tooling costs are prohibitive. Carima's C-CAT technology competes directly with other high-speed photopolymer systems from companies like Carbon (DLS) and Nexa3D (LSPc), but Carima differentiates by offering an integrated materials-and-machine bundle, including its own medical and engineering resins. The company's focus on Southeast Asia aligns with the broader trend of supply chain diversification away from China, as ASEAN nations expand their role as production hubs for automotive, electronics, and medical devices. Carima's pitch - that additive manufacturing complements rather than replaces traditional mold-making - is a pragmatic positioning for a region where injection molding remains dominant for high-volume runs.

For Carima, the real test is whether its C-CAT technology can deliver repeatable, production-grade output at a cost-per-part that competes with short-run injection molding in Thai and Vietnamese factories. The company must also build local service and support infrastructure to match the responsiveness that regional manufacturers expect from their tooling suppliers. This is a credible but incremental step: Carima is not disrupting the mold industry, but it is offering a viable bridge for manufacturers who need flexibility without abandoning their existing metal-tooling relationships.