K&K Prototypenbau showcases complete process chain in polymer 3D printing at Formnext

At Formnext 2025, K&K Prototypenbau from North Rhine-Westphalia is demonstrating how polymer 3D printing can be seamlessly integrated into an industrial process chain. The focus is not only on producing complex components using laser sintering, but also on their further processing into presentation-ready or application-ready prototypes. The trade fair appearance highlights how closely machinery, process know-how and manual finishing are interlinked in day-to-day operations.

The technical basis of additive manufacturing at K&K consists of several EOS P 770 systems for selective laser sintering. With their large build volume, the systems are suitable both for bulky components and for dense nestings of small and medium series. For customers from mechanical engineering, automotive or consumer goods development, short lead times combined with reproducible part quality are crucial. K&K positions itself as a manufacturing partner that not only prints parts, but also supports customers in design for AM and part approval.

Beyond 3D printing, the company offers classical model-making expertise, high-gloss surfaces, painted show parts, functional prototypes with integrated electronics and complete trade fair exhibits. Internally, this is jokingly described as “model-making taken to the extreme” – referring to a level of value creation that extends from the raw sintered structure all the way to the finished design object.

A focal point of this year’s appearance is the joint demonstration project with AMT. In Hall 12.1, Stand E41, the companies show how chemical smoothing is changing the post-processing of SLS parts. The SF100 smoothing system installed at K&K enables the treatment of larger batches and parts with complex geometries. In contrast to purely manual surface finishing, roughness and haptics can be defined precisely without excessively rounding edges or details.

For Formnext visitors, this makes it clear how additive manufacturing works on an industrial scale: from the build job on the EOS P 770 through automated finishing processes to a visually and functionally refined prototype. K&K thus presents a realistic picture of how 3D printing is used today in development departments and production projects – including all the process steps that lie between the powder bed layer and the finished component.