BOSTON—Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) is a provider of advanced manufacturing technology for what it describes as “ultra-high precision applications.” The company reported recently that its business continued to grow in 2024 on the strength of success in multiple areas, namely customers’ use of its platforms for prototyping, development, and short run production.
Boston Micro Fabrication’s high precision and micro-resolution 3D printing technology, Projection Micro Stereolithography (PμSL), is used by companies pushing the boundaries of innovation across the medical device, electronics, optics, photonics, and life sciences industries. More than 600 BMF systems are currently in use at customer locations around the world, the company stated in a release.
New materials create opportunity for new applications
In 2024, BMF successfully commercialized four new materials that the company introduced at the end of last year. These advanced materials include 3D Systems’ Figure 4® HI TEMP 300-AMB, BASF Ultracur3D 3280, and BMF resins HTF and SR. They are reported to help drive the production of fit-for-purpose parts in industries like aerospace, medical devices, electronics, and biotechnology. Each material is compatible with BMF’s microArch 3D printer, offering what the company described as “unparalleled accuracy, heat resistance, and material performance.”
Continued momentum in global dental markets
Boston Micro Fabrication received U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance for its innovative UltraThineer™ material, used to create what is reportedly the world’s thinnest cosmetic dental veneer. Simultaneously, BMF said it continued to offer “best-in-class cosmetic dentistry solutions in China and Japan, offering both direct-to-patient and provider-enabled access to ultra-thin veneers.”
The company also celebrated the grand opening of the UltraThineer™ Lab, which houses BMF’s proprietary technology, at its U.S. headquarters in Maynard, Massachusetts, to advance the production of UltraThineer™ veneers. To enable dentists to offer better veneers to their patients, BMF said it is partnering with dental labs in the U.S. and expects to have the products commercially available in the first half of 2025.
Launching the industry’s first micro-scale printer with hybrid resolution
Boston Micro Fabrication also launched the dual resolution microArch D1025, reported to be the industry’s first printer that can print in either 10µm or 25µm resolution or in hybrid mode with both resolutions in the same print layer or in different layers. Using BMF’s patented PµSL technology, the printer is the first in a series that will offer more flexibility and efficiency for customers who require micro-scale and ultra-high-resolution printing across healthcare, electronics, life sciences, and photonics applications, the company said in the release.
“BMF’s micro-precision 3D printing technology has completely transformed how we approach connector manufacturing,” said George Glatts, owner of Z-Axis Connector Company, in the release. “Previously limited to tolerances of 5 thousandths with traditional methods, BMF allowed us to achieve tolerances of 1 to 2 thousandths, opening new possibilities for compact, high-performance connectors. Their platform also enabled us to use high-temperature materials that withstand the demands of standard electronic assembly processes, enhancing efficiency and allowing us to create more compact, innovative designs. With BMF, we’ve reduced time and costs while delivering precision and performance that surpass industry standards.”
Boston Micro Fabrication CEO John Kawola commented on BMF’s position in the market.
“Like we’ve said since our beginning, things are getting smaller in the world and, as they get smaller, they get more difficult to make. We are satisfying customer needs to prototype and manufacture parts that increasingly need higher precision. We are also utilizing our own platform to expand application development and launch new businesses. We are excited for the future.”
For supporting customers across key industries with micro-3D printing technology, BMF was included on the 2024 Inc. 5000 list, which ranks companies that are “building the future,” according to percentage revenue growth. The company was also recognized by the Boston Business Journal as Massachusetts’ fifth fastest-growing private company.