EOS is preparing to introduce a new polymer powder bed fusion platform at Formnext 2026, and one early customer trial is already providing performance data. Materialise evaluated the system under production conditions and reported 44% higher productivity than with the previous EOS platform, along with a reduction of more than six minutes in build time per part.
The trial involved a cable twist wheel for GKN Aerospace. According to the account, the machine successfully printed the component. Materialise also used the exercise to examine reliability, the effect of new features, productivity and efficiency, usability and control, and the ease of post-processing. EOS has not released full technical details; the platform is scheduled to be presented on November 17 at Formnext 2026.
Three-laser architecture
Known features include a three-laser architecture, intelligent use of those lasers and dynamic load balancing. The system's dynamic load balancing is intended to maximize output per build by distributing exposure workload evenly, while added laser capacity contributes to higher productivity. Giovanni Vleminckx, process engineering manager at Materialise, said the three lasers made a visible difference in performance. He said their intelligent use helped Materialise achieve considerably higher throughput while maintaining the part quality customers expect.
Extended process controls are another part of the offering. Users can work with validated parameter sets or open them up to gain more control and align processing with specific applications and KPIs. Vleminckx said the overall performance stood out rather than one isolated feature. He described the system as combining the productivity Materialise needs with the process stability and control required to move demanding applications into production.
Build time and depowdering
In the cable twist wheel build, Materialise recorded a 44% productivity gain compared with the previous machine. Build time per part fell from 19:53 minutes to 13:51 minutes. The company also pointed to downstream benefits from an advanced roller recoater, which produces softer powder cakes. That makes it easier to depowder parts and reduces handling effort.
Vleminckx called the soft powder cake a very tangible improvement for operators. Parts are easier to unpack and clean, he said, making the overall workflow noticeably more efficient.
The combination of the three-laser architecture, the new roller recoater and open process controls matters for a manufacturing service with high-throughput requirements and a need to adapt to different production applications. The trial indicates how EOS is positioning the platform: not only around faster printing, but also around process control and the steps that follow the build. More complete specifications are expected when EOS presents the system at Formnext 2026, from November 17, at its booth in hall 12, stand D71.