Henkel Opens New €18M 3D Printing Technology Centre in Tallaght, Ireland

Chemical and consumer goods giant Henkel is investing €18 million over the next four years at its Tallaght research and development centre, as it opens a new 3D printing hub there today. The Centre will become Henkel’s European regional hub for technology presentations, demonstrations, training, testing as well as customer service for 3D Printing solutions.

Henkel, which owns brands such as Persil, Sellotape, Unibond, Super Glue, RightGuard and Loctite, is the world’s largest manufacturer of adhesives, sealants and functional coatings. Founded in 1876, the German-headquartered company employs 50,000 people across more than 120 countries.

Henkel has committed to a four year investment plan to expand the company’s capabilities in R&D, application and product development. The company aims to develop new advanced materials for use in a broad range of industrial manufacturing.

Henkel employs 400 people in the Republic, and has manufacturing and R&D operations in Dublin and Ballyfermot for a wide range of adhesive technologies.

The initial stage of the Irish Innovation and Interaction Centre comprises 700sqm of laboratories, customer service offices, meeting rooms and 3D printing facilities. Over the next 2 years Henkel plans to further expand the centre to 2000sqm to include five additional laboratories, workstations & meeting spaces.

According to the company, Henkel’s Tallaght site was chosen as the regional hub for Europe due to the existing team’s R&D knowledge and experience in resins and other adhesive technologies.

“The cluster of leading medtech, aerospace and other industries using 3D printing, made Ireland a natural choice to create a regional hub for Europe,” said Henkel’s technology centre director, Dr Matthew Holloway.

As part of this investment Henkel will teams up with a number of companies including HP and Carbon 3D and install specialised equipment and devices for 3D printing.

Sources: Henkel