Quick Summary
• BASF Starts Up World’s First Industrial-Scale 3D Printed Catalyst Plant in Ludwigshafen March 20
Additional Context
BASF commissioned the world’s first production plant for 3D-printed catalysts, bringing its proprietary X3D technology to full industrial scale at its Ludwigshafen site.
The X3D process uses additive manufacturing to produce catalysts with precisely engineered geometries that combine high mechanical stability with an open structure. That design reduces pressure drop inside reactors, increases the catalytically active surface area, and delivers higher reactor throughput at lower energy consumption compared to conventionally made catalysts.
It’s not a debut for the technology itself. BASF has been supplying X3D catalysts to internal and external customers for several years across a range of materials, including precious and base metal catalysts and various support types. The new plant is m