It all began as part of a research project by two students at Vienna University of Technology (TU); as the available equipment didn’t entirely meet the young researchers’ requirements, they simply built a suitable 3D printer themselves.
Once they managed to establish a serial production process for technical ceramics that produced the same quality as conventional methods, the Vienna University of Technology spin-off could truly be said to have begun.
Lithoz is now a successful technology company operating on four sites with a global footprint; the company’s headquarters, research facility and engineering department is located in Vienna, and it is here the prototype 3D printers are built. The ultimate aim is to manufacture ceramic components that deliver exceptional technical performance.
Ceramics are fantastic materials with a wide range of uses; they have better thermal and chemical resistance than metal and are thus of interest for e.g. space travel. Ceramic components created by Lithoz printers are highly sought after in the semiconductor industry for their excellent thermal conductivity, and the human body’s good tolerance of the material makes it an attractive option for medical applications.
Since 2021, Lithoz has been researching ways to combine different bio-materials in additive manufacturing of medical products. An interdisciplinary team from the fields of research, medicine and technology have developed a jaw implant that reached a milestone in medical history last autumn, when for the first time anywhere in the world, a component from a 3D printer was implanted subperiosteally in a jaw. Previously, several bone transplants had often been required to compensate for atrophy or removal of jaw bone material. Implants such as those provided by Lithoz are a game-changer, with good toleration, less intrusive treatment and shorter healing times – ceramics have thus demonstrated particular benefits in medical applications.
You can also find out more about the areas of medical technology in which Austrian firms are making first-class, innovative developments in our industry magazine FRESH VIEW.
