Chemical Catalysts and Adsorbents
Sustainability
X3D®

X3D® Technology

X3D®: Shaping tomorrow's catalysts with today's technology

BASF starts up the world’s first production plant for 3D-printed catalysts in Ludwigshafen

BASF started up the world’s first production plant for catalysts based on X3D® technology at its Ludwigshafen site. With the commissioning of this facility, BASF is scaling the additive manufacturing of catalysts to an industrial level and strengthening its leading role in innovative solutions for the chemical industry.

Learn more here.

With our new X3D® technology, BASF expands its experience in catalyst production into additive manufacturing: Based on 3D printing, catalysts produced with our X3D® technology combine proven active materials with a new shaping technology. The result is a high reactivity, a higher freedom of catalyst design and a lower pressure drop minimizing energy consumption. BASF operates an industrial-scale production plant at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. 

    

Key Facts

  • Proven-track record in industrial plants since 2019
  • Industrial scale production plant in Ludwigshafen
  • Versatile technology that can be applied to a wide range of catalytic materials
  • Possibility to customize catalysts to customers’ specific conditions and needs

X3D® - Unlock Cost Savings and Sustainability

X3D® is a breakthrough shaping technology which will help you cut down costs and boost your sustainability goals:

Benefits of the X3D® technology come from intrinsic properties such a lower bulk density, improved mechanical stability, a faster prototyping, novel and tailored shapes, a lower pressure drop and improved geometric surface area.

We have successfully operated commercial plants using X3D® catalysts for several years, achieving remarkable results. This technology is poised to shape the future for both green and traditional value chains with unparalleled efficiency and improved speed-to-market.

Jens Perregaard

Vice President Custom Catalysts & Innovation, BASF Chemical Catalysts and Adsorbents

Customer Success Story – commercially proven technology

Sulfuric Acid: O4-115 X3D®

N2O abatement: O3-85 X3D®

Publication

BASF already supplies several internal and external customers with X3D catalysts. Here, the reactor of a chemical plant at BASF’s Ludwigshafen site is being filled. Photo: BASF
BASF starts up the world’s first production plant for 3D-printed catalysts in Ludwigshafen
Ludwigshafen, March 19, 2026 – BASF today started up the world’s first production plant for catalysts based on X3D® technology at its Ludwigshafen site. With the commissioning of this facility, BASF is scaling the additive manufacturing of catalysts to an industrial level and strengthening its leading role in innovative solutions for the chemical industry.
BASF to build additional production capacity for X3D® catalyst shaping technology in Ludwigshafen
BASF announced today that it will invest in additional production capacity for its X3D® technology, a new additive manufacturing technology for catalysts based on 3D printing. The plant will produce catalysts on an industrial scale and is expected to be operational in 2026. 

BASF's X3D® Technology

X3D® is an additive manufacturing technology for catalyst production. Utilizing advanced 3D printing techniques, X3D® creates catalysts with optimized shapes that maximize performance, improve
efficiency, and reduce energy consumption. The technology enables tailor-made catalyst designs for various industrial applications.
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