10XL

Today, we're thrilled to introduce a new member to our team at 10XL! Let's give a warm welcome to our latest intern, who's joining us for a whirlwind two-day adventure. Starting an internship, even for a short stint, can stir up a mix of excitement and nerves, but fear not—we're here to make it an unforgettable experience! During his brief stay, our intern will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in our company culture, get to know our amazing team, and even tackle some hands-on projects. It's a crash course in all things 10XL, and we couldn't be more thrilled to have them on board. 𝐍𝐨𝐰, 𝐥𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, 𝐆𝐮𝐮𝐬, 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭-𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: 👋 Hello, LinkedIn fam! My name is Guus Looijen, and I'm excited to share my first-day adventures as an intern at 10XL. Today marked the beginning of an incredible journey with the company, and here's a glimpse of how it all unfolded: We kicked off bright and early at 9 a.m., heading straight to Meerkerk Houtbouw B.V. to pick up a frame and order a couple more for our boats. Witnessing the skilled craftsmen in action was truly fascinating! Back at the office, we dove into organizing our work hours, giving me a fantastic insight into the company's operations and the amazing team I'll be collaborating with. After a productive morning, it was time for some on-site action! By noon, the transport arrived, and we swiftly grabbed the remaining frames we needed. Then, off we went to Holland Shipyards Group for an insightful meeting with industry professionals. As the clock struck 2:30 p.m., it was time to wrap up the day. Despite the busy schedule, I felt a sense of accomplishment and excitement for the adventures that lie ahead during my internship at 10XL. Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I can't wait to share more with you all soon! Let's continue making the most of every moment together! 🚀 #InternshipDiaries #10XLJourney #NewBeginnings

In 2016, someone asked a question: "Can you print ten times larger?" Linda van Hal, Joep Grapperhaus and Gerbert Smits embraced the challenge and founded 10XL. We engineered and built our own robot 3D printer, added a CNC milling machine, and perfected it with a tape placement machine—true hybrid manufacturing. But we didn't stop there. Alongside investor Henk Jan Aarsen, we created the first 3D print compound using Post-Consumer Waste: r-UltraMarathon 3D. Gispen placed their trust in us, and we crafted a series of Sett CE sofa frames that earned them a Dutch Design Award. The Provincie Zuid-Holland granted us the opportunity to create the re-sit: a sleek bench placed along the provincial bike paths. Henk-Jan Room and Martin van Diggele recognized the potential of 3D printing for the CityGard container garden, and this year, we anticipate producing our 1,000th printed garden. IMPACD Boats, Ottenhome B.V. and StilSloep had us manufacture the hulls of their circular sloops. And in August 2023, commissioned by Holland Shipyards Group, we commenced printing the autonomous ferry for the Olympic Games in Paris. On Thursday morning, January 25th, the completed hull will rest on the Holland Shipyards' dock alongside the H2 boat, an autonomous electric ferry, and the Riveer. It awaits inspection by King Willem-Alexander from Royal House of the Netherlands and minister Micky Adriaansens of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, who will be visiting the maritime manufacturing industry in Gemeente Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht and Gemeente Hardinxveld-Giessendam. For 10XL, this isn't just the end of our quest; it proudly signifies a new milestone in our journey as we embark on the production of true circular ships!

As a co-founder of 10XL, a company specializing in Large Area Additive Manufacturing (LAAM) with a focus on recycled plastics, I've witnessed the evolution of 3D printing over the years. In the current landscape, there's a growing trend towards generic machines for LAAM. However, I firmly believe that this approach is flawed and can hinder the progress of the industry. One of the reasons all-encompassing 3D printing hasn't gained widespread adoption, even after 40 years, is the belief in the potential of generic machines. 3D printing, by its very nature, is highly technology-focused. However, my perspective is shaped by the conviction that the ultimate metric of success is the final application—the product used by an end-client. At 10XL, we take a unique approach to LAAM by building 3D printers around specific applications. If the goal is to print a boat, we tailor the machine to the boat, meticulously considering every aspect of the build process. Our print strategy is adapted to the product's requirements—whether it's a vertical, horizontal, angled, or multi-angled structure, impacting the placement of the workbed and the type of support system needed. We even take customization to the next level by seamlessly integrating CNC milling and Unidirectional (UD) Tape placement into the printing process. In fact, we've pioneered and coined the term "hybrid process" back in 2016 to describe this comprehensive approach. Selling generic systems for LAAM risks importing the challenges seen in generic desktop machines into the realm of large-scale additive manufacturing. We can do better than that. In the Netherlands, we experienced a decade of remarkable progress in LAAM by companies which operate custom-designed machines. The consensus among those printing functional parts is clear: generic machines are not the solution. At 10XL, we go even further by creating in-house materials tailored for specific markets and developing slicers designed for certain products. It's a challenging but necessary approach to drive the industry forward. So, here's my plea to the community: let's be smart about this. Focus solely on your application. Build a fully automated production system around your product. If you're hesitant or unsure how to proceed, give 10XL a call, and let's explore how we can collaborate to bring your vision to life. #LAAM #3DPrinting #Innovation #Manufacturing #Customization #10XL

This week I visited Formnext - Where ideas take shape, one of the worlds largest industrial additive manufacturing events. In 2016, we founded 10XL, specializing in large area additive manufacturing with fully recycled plastics. Back then, we were among the pioneers in robot printing, which meant we had to build everything from scratch: hardware, software, and materials. Our focus was on creating the best environment for large area additive manufacturing using recycled materials. Other production companies were on a similar path, each building their application-focused print systems. It was an exciting time – building a new world with our own tools. What set us apart was our commitment to circular production. Our compounds are entirely based on post-consumer waste, and we make sure we can reuse all material as shredded flakes. Our efforts have borne fruit, and today, 10XL has printed thousands of large functional 3D prints using the post-consumer-based r-UltraMarathon®3D from Transmare Cirqlair. Printed products for CityGard, The Urban Jungle Project, HUNC and Streetlife BV are made from post-consumer waste and all increase the presence of green spaces, vegetation, and natural elements within urban areas. Our success has inspired other companies to follow suit. Some focused on hardware, others on software, and still others on materials. Many of these innovative companies were present at Formnext. As I explored the different halls and booths at Formnext, I was pleased to see progress being made, with small prints, big prints, and many smiling faces. However, my enthusiasm was dampened when I realized something crucial was missing: the word "circularity". There was no mention of recycled materials or shredded parts. It was a shock, given the global transition towards a more circular economy. One reason for this oversight is that hardware suppliers push their products, even though these solutions are primarily geared toward the use of virgin plastics. Material suppliers aren't much different, as they tend to sell re-branded virgin compounds for additive manufacturing. Fortunately, end-users of printed parts have a final say in this matter. If you're looking for fully circular production for boats, public furniture, bridges, and more, be sure to give 10XL a call. We're passionate about advancing the cause of circularity in 3D printing and believe that our journey can inspire a more sustainable and responsible approach to additive manufacturing. Let's build a circular future together! 🌍🔄 #circulareconomy #additivemanufacturing #sustainability #3dprinting #formnext2023