New Certified Flame-Retardant FDM Material
Stratasys is launching FDM PA6/66-GF30-FR, a new flame-retardant composite material to enable rail and transportation manufacturers to produce certified end-use parts and critical spare parts
The new material expands Stratasys’ portfolio of industrial-grade, rail-ready FDM thermoplastics and is engineered for use on Fortus 450mc and F9000 systems.
Developed in response to collaboration with railway OEMs and service providers, the new material addresses a need for certified, production-ready additive manufacturing solutions that balance compliance, performance, and cost of ownership.
The new material meets EN 45545-2 HL2 and FMVSS 302 fire safety requirements, providing high stiffness and strength suitable for load-bearing, functional rail applications.
Developed for production environments, the material offers reliable printability, excellent surface finish, and repeatable part quality. Its flame-retardant PA 6/66 base polymer is strengthened with 30% glass fibre, providing stronger, stiffer performance than PC-FR alternatives and positioning it competitively around materials such as ULTEM 9085 resin. Compatibility with SUP4050B breakaway supports facilitates efficient post-processing and throughput for end-use parts.
Lorenzo Gasparoni, 3D Printing Program manager, Alstom Group, said, “With Stratasys, we can implement additive manufacturing in a controlled, certifiable way, which is essential for the rail industry. FDM PA6/66-GF30-FR supports reliable, repeatable production of qualified spare parts, along with streamlined, easy support removal using SUP4050B. The surface finish is exceptional and directly reflects the quality and performance of the parts.”
Rail and transportation manufacturers are increasingly adopting additive manufacturing to support production of on-demand spare parts, reducing lead times and lowering inventory costs, particularly across long-life assets and maintenance operations.
Christian Ochs, head of Additive Manufacturing, Siemens Mobility, said, “At Siemens Mobility, we see additive manufacturing as a key enabler of flexible production in the railway industry. Its ability to produce complex, application-specific parts on demand supports more efficient maintenance, reduces lead times, and enhances lifecycle management across rail systems.”
Rich Garrity, chief business unit officer at Stratasys, said, “Stratasys is strategically focused on mobility, transportation, automotive, and industrial applications, where our high-end additive manufacturing solutions have a real advantage in meeting production and certification requirements. The launch of FDM PA6/66-GF30-FR demonstrates our excellence in design for mobility applications. By expanding our rail-certified FDM materials portfolio, we’re enabling customers to scale additive manufacturing with greater flexibility and confidence, while producing parts when and where they’re needed.”
