BASF and Natural Machines announced their strategic partnership in developing a technology that enables customized face masks and eye patches produced in 3D printers.

With this new solution user can obtain masks that are not only adaptable to individual face sizes, but also allow the incorporation of different benefits in various zones within the mask.

“With this partnership we are expanding our personalized cosmetic technologies, and we very much look forward to working with Natural Machines in this promising area. We can build on their experience and expertise of 3D printing to bring this know-how into the personal care market,” says Robert Parker, Director, New Business Development - Care Chemicals, BASF.

“Our initial tests proved the potential to print face masks and patches based on BASF ingredients. We continue to focus on adapting the technology, to establish a new approach for personalized face masks for our customers based on bio-based and biodegradable solutions,” says Christina Kohlmann, Senior Manager for Open Innovation Personal Care at Care Chemicals, BASF.

Through this strategic partnership, BASF will exclusively commercialize the technology as a holistic solution to the global personal care industry, consisting of a machine, cartridges, and ingredient mixtures.

“Our partnership with BASF will help us to grow our portfolio from the food sector to include the cosmetics industry. We will benefit from BASF’s experience and latest developments in cosmetic ingredients, while leveraging the broad expertise we have built during the last eight years in 3D food printing. At the same time, BASF’s leading position in the personal care market gives us an extraordinary opportunity to commercialize the technology and the device in this space,” says Emilio Sepulveda, CEO of Natural Machines.

BASF and Natural Machines aim to introduce the technology to the market in 2022 globally.