Since 2012, Dirk has been pushing additive manufacturing (AM) for functional parts and series applications. The high market growth shows that the direction is right, but it still needs more trust in additive manufacturing. It will be helpful to collaborate beyond company and country borders, also with China, and further far-east countries. Since 2000, Dirk increasingly engaged himself in collaborations with China in an “Open Innovation” mindset.
Dirk Simon received his PhD in polymer chemistry in Freiburg in 1995. He gained 17 years of professional experience in classic manufacturing (extrusion, injection molding) and switched to additive manufacturing (AM) in 2012. Until 2018, he was responsible for establishing BASF’s global business unit “3D Printing Solutions”. Thereafter, he founded Farsoon Europe GmbH in Stuttgart and was responsible for the European business of Farsoon’s industrial machines for laser sintering of plastic and metal powders.
In 2023, he started offering Consultancy Services. Based on his experience from classic manufacturing, he promotes increasing the competitiveness of AM and the development of applications with open material selection.
FKM Additive Manufacturing hired him part time as an Interim Manager for internal consultancy projects. In Germany FKM is the market leader in the contract-manufacturing of plastic and metal parts by powder bed fusion technologies. Customers include well-known companies in automotive, aerospace, and mechanical engineering.
