Material development:

• Formulation and optimisation of specialised materials for various AM technologies (material extrusion, powder bed fusion, photocurable resins for vat photopolymerization)
• Support in up-scaling of new materials to production lines
• Testing and characterisation
• Mechanical, thermal and spectroscopic characterisation
• Evaluation of structure and microstructure by digital optical microscopy
• Biodegradation studies under various conditions
• Environmental testing under various conditions and evaluation of performance
• AM process development and optimisation
• Consultation on design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) principles and part optimization
• Process parameter optimization to achieve desired material properties and part quality
• Development of custom printing protocols and post-processing procedures

Additive Manufacturing Services:

• On-demand production of prototypes, functional parts, and small series using multiple AM technologies
• Post-processing services, including sand blasting, vapour smoothing, and UV curing

• ADDCIRCLES: Promoting Sustainable Regional Development through Additive Manufacturing: A Cross-Border Initiative for a Resilient and Circular Economy
• IPPT_TWINN: Reinforcing the scientific excellence and innovation capacity in polymer processing technologies of the Faculty of Polymer Technology (https://www.ippt-twinn.eu/About-the-project)
• CEL.CYCLE: Exploiting the potential of biomass for the development of advanced materials and bio-based products (https://celkrog.si)

Scientific articles:

• SLAPNIK, Janez, LORBER, Rebeka, PULKO, Irena, HUSKIĆ, Miroslav, PUŠNIK ČREŠNAR, Klementina. Overprinting of TPU onto PA6 substrates : the influences of the interfacial area, surface roughness and processing parameters on the adhesion between components. Polymers. 2024, vol. 16, iss. 5, [article no.] 650, str. 1-16
• SLAPNIK, Janez, PULKO, Irena, RUDOLF, Rebeka, ANŽEL, Ivan, BRUNČKO, Mihael. Fused filament fabrication of Nd-Fe-B bonded magnets: Comparison of PA12 and TPU matrices. Additive manufacturing. Feb. 2021, vol. 38 (101745), str. 1-13, DOI: 10.1016/j.addma.2020.101745
• SLAPNIK, Janez, PULKO, Irena. Tailoring properties of photopolymers for additive manufacturing with mixture design. Progress in additive manufacturing. 2021, vol. 6, str. 83-91, DOI: 10.1007/s40964-020-00147-1.
• SLAPNIK, Janez, STILLER, Tanja, WILHELM, Thomas Jürgen Friedrich, HAUSBERGER, Andreas. Influence of solid lubricants on the tribological performance of photocurable resins for vat photopolymerization. Lubricants. Dec. 2020, vol. 8, iss. 12, str. 104-1-104-19, DOI: 10.3390/lubricants8120104.

Patents:

• BRUNČKO, Mihael, SLAPNIK, Janez. Filament za 3D tisk plastomagnetov s tehnologijo ciljnega neprekinjenega nalaganja snovi : patent SI 26316 A, 2023-08-31. Ljubljana: Urad RS za intelektualno lastnino,