eSUN × UnionTech Join Forces to Break Through Flexible Manufacturing | TCT ASIA 2026

On March 17, TCT ASIA 2026 grandly opened in Shanghai. At the exhibition, eSUN, together with UnionTech, officially launched the “single-component + bottom-up” flexible manufacturing solution, focusing on the large-scale industrial application of flexible 3D printing.

This solution is built on deep synergy between “materials + equipment,” featuring UnionTech’s high-precision bottom-up DLP 3D printer Cute 380 and eSUN’s FlexOne series single-component elastic resin materials. Through underlying technology integration, both parties jointly overcome process bottlenecks in elastomer printing, providing a complete pathway from prototyping to production for diverse applications.

Addressing the key challenges of flexible photopolymer 3D printing, elastomer printing has long been constrained by two major bottlenecks:

On the material side, mainstream “two-component” systems require manual mixing, leading to complex operation, short pot life, and low material utilization, making them unsuitable for continuous production. On the equipment side, top-down DLP is significantly affected by peeling forces, resulting in deformation and low success rates when printing thin walls or lattice structures. In addition, complex supports and cumbersome post-processing further drive up overall manufacturing costs.

The Breakthrough: Converging Advancements in Materials and Equipment

Based on deep insights into these challenges, eSUN and UnionTech jointly launched an integrated flexible manufacturing solution, centered on the synergistic optimization of “resin formulation × optical system”:

• Leveraging nearly 20 years of expertise in polymer synthesis and modification, eSUN has developed the FlexOne series single-component elastic resins—ready to use without mixing, with a usable life of several days, and significant improvements in elongation, rebound, and fatigue resistance;
• UnionTech’s Cute 380 adopts a bottom-up DLP optical design and a specialized release film. Combined with the optimized rheological properties of FlexOne resins, it achieves extremely low peeling force, requires fewer supports, enables easy separation, and significantly improves print success rates.

Together, they deliver improvements in large-format printing, high precision, reduced support requirements, and simplified post-processing—truly accelerating elastomer 3D printing from “prototyping” to “mass production.”

Versatile Applications Enabled by Flexibility

The FlexOne series currently includes multiple grades of elastic resins with varying hardness and foaming levels, meeting diverse application needs.

• Footwear Manufacturing: Lattice midsoles with region-specific adjustable hardness;
• Humanoid Robotics: Flexible joints and biomimetic muscle structures;
• Sports Protection: Customized protective gear and cycling saddles;
• Industrial Applications: Flexible fixtures, wire harness protectors, and sealing components;
• Consumer Products: Ergonomic backpack pads and creative flexible components.

Strong Collaboration, Ushering in a New Era of Flexible Manufacturing

As a leading enterprise in industrial-grade 3D printing, UnionTech continues to drive high-performance equipment development through core technological innovation, while eSUN focuses on biomaterials and additive manufacturing, committed to promoting the adoption of new technologies through advanced materials.

This strategic collaboration goes beyond a simple business partnership—it is an alliance built on foundational technologies to jointly create value for users. We believe that through continuous joint efforts, flexible photopolymer 3D printing will truly enter the era of large-scale industrial application.

TCT ASIA 2026 will continue until March 19. For more highlights, welcome to visit the eSUN booth (Hall 8.1, Booth 8E72) to explore, exchange ideas, and experience a new world of “unlimited flexibility” in 3D printing!