US digital manufacturer Stratasys (Eden Prairie, Minnesota; www.stratasys.com) has launched a simulated PP material for use with "Polyjet" 3D printers. The company, which supplies 3D printers and materials for prototyping, says the material, "Endur", offers high impact resistance and elongation at break, resulting in tough parts. It also has a heat-deflection temperature of up to 54 °Celsius and has excellent dimensional stability for its material class.

These properties, said Stratasys, make Endur suitable for a wide range of form, fit and assembly applications including flexible living hinges, moving and assembled parts, and snap-fit parts like those used for lids and cases/containers. Available in bright white and with a smooth look and feel, the material is well suited for prototyping household appliances, consumer goods, automotive parts and laboratory equipment, according to the company.

“Beta field trials showed high user satisfaction with Endur for models and prototypes of polypropylene parts,” commented Fred Fischer, product director for materials and applications, adding that customers also acknowledged the material’s toughness and flexibility.

The company has announced a recovery in net income for the first quarter of 2014, to USD 4.1m (GAAP basis) compared with a loss of USD 15.5m for the same period last year. First quarter revenue was USD 150.9m.