Prusa Research and Nagoya Kogei to debut silicone 3D printing technology in Japan at Manufacturing World Tokyo

Prusa Research, in partnership with Nagoya Kogei, will showcase the first Japanese public demonstration of its silicone 3D printing technology at Manufacturing World Tokyo from July 1-3, 2026. The centerpiece is a dedicated silicone print head for the Original Prusa XL, using Prusa's patented Liquid Filament technology that feeds liquid silicone from a cartridge-like tube, mixes two-component silicone within the toolhead, and cures it layer-by-layer during deposition. This enables FDM/FFF-style silicone printing for the first time, and when combined with the XL's multi-tool system, allows rigid thermoplastics and silicone to be printed in a single build - eliminating secondary assembly or overmolding steps. Prusa will also demonstrate the Prusa Bondtech INDX, an eight-tool multi-material system for the CORE One, and the Prusa Pro HT90, a 500°C-capable industrial printer targeting PEEK, PEKK, and PEI (Ultem) for automotive, aerospace, and medical applications.

This debut matters because it extends Prusa's value proposition beyond its traditional polymer FDM/FFF stronghold into a material class - silicone - that has been largely inaccessible to open-platform desktop and industrial systems. Silicone printing has historically required dedicated liquid deposition or inkjet-style machines, often from specialty vendors like Wacker Chemie or Dow Silastic, with limited multi-material integration. By embedding silicone capability into a proven multi-tool platform, Prusa addresses a real production gap: soft-touch grips, gaskets, medical seals, and robotics components that combine rigid and elastomeric properties in one print. The timing aligns with growing demand in medical-dental and industrial-tooling verticals for functional prototypes and low-volume production parts that mimic overmolded geometries without tooling investment. For Prusa, this is a deliberate move up the value chain - from a desktop champion to a credible supplier of multi-process, multi-material solutions for professional and industrial users, particularly in Japan's quality-conscious manufacturing ecosystem.

From a practical standpoint, the success of this technology will hinge on material consistency and adhesion between silicone and common thermoplastics like PLA or PETG. Prusa's Liquid Filament approach is clever in its simplicity - using a cartridge that mimics filament loading - but the real test is whether the two-part mixing and in-nozzle curing can deliver repeatable mechanical properties across a production run. For buyers, this is not yet a drop-in replacement for injection overmolding at scale, but it is a credible tool for design validation and bridge production. Prusa must now prove that the silicone print head is not a one-show novelty but a supported, consumables-backed product with reliable supply chains for the silicone cartridges.