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• Partnership to create bio-based, biodegradable customized face masks and eye patches for personal care applications
• 3D printing technology for masks with an individual, custom-fit size
• Different effect zones within one mask cater for individual consumer needs

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

Customization of personal care products is a global trend. To meet this growing need, a combination of product expertise and technical understanding is key. BASF, a leading supplier to the personal care industry, and Natural Machines, a solution provider for kitchen and personal care equipment, build upon their respective innovation know-how: a unique 3D printer and 3D printing knowledge from Natural Machines, and the personal care ingredients from BASF.

With this new solution users 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 at 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, comprising 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.

About the Care Chemicals division at BASF

The BASF division Care Chemicals offers a broad range of ingredients for personal care, hygiene, home care, industrial & institutional cleaning, and technical applications. We are the global leading supplier for the cosmetics industry as well as the detergents and cleaners industry, and support our customers with innovative and sustainable products, solutions and concepts. The division’s high-performance product portfolio includes surfactants, emulsifiers, polymers, emollients, chelating agents, cosmetic active ingredients and UV filters. We have production and development sites in all regions and are expanding our presence in emerging markets. Further information is available online at www.care-chemicals.basf.com.

About Natural Machines

Natural Machines creates innovative kitchen and personal care solutions. Our solutions make products at or closer to the point of consumption, customized for each individual. We help further the advancement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #12: Responsible Production and Consumption. Founded in 2012, Natural Machines’ first released product is Foodini, a 3D food printing kitchen appliance. Foodini is selling globally, currently focused on the B2B/professional space. Further information at www.naturalmachines.com