New flame-retardant composite material from Stratasys for rail and transportation
Last update on Jul 3, 2026
Rail and transportation manufacturers working on certified end-use and critical spare parts can now evaluate FDM® PA6/66-GF30-FR, a new flame-retardant composite material introduced by Stratasys Ltd. The material is engineered for use on Fortus® 450mc and F900® systems and expands Stratasys' portfolio of industrial-grade, rail-ready FDM thermoplastics.
According to Stratasys, the material was developed in response to long-standing collaboration with railway OEMs and service providers, addressing a market need for certified, production-ready additive manufacturing solutions that balance compliance, performance, and total cost of ownership.
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Stronger and stiffer performance than PC-FR alternatives
Engineers specifying materials for load-bearing, functional rail parts can assess a material that meets EN 45545-2 HL2 (R22/R23) and FMVSS 302 fire safety requirements, with high stiffness and strength suited to these applications. According to Stratasys, the flame-retardant PA 6/66 base polymer, reinforced with 30% glass fiber, delivers stronger and stiffer performance than PC-FR alternatives and positions the material competitively alongside materials such as ULTEM™ 9085 resin.
Stratasys reports that customers benefit from the durability, performance, and quality associated with its certified parts. According to Stratasys, formulators and production teams can expect reliable printability, excellent surface finish, and repeatable part quality in production environments. Compatibility with SUP4050B breakaway supports enables efficient post-processing and throughput for end-use parts.
"With Stratasys, we can implement additive manufacturing in a controlled, certifiable way, which is essential for the rail industry," said Lorenzo Gasparoni, 3D Printing Program manager, Alstom Group. "FDM PA6/66-GF30-FR supports reliable, repeatable production of qualified spare parts, along with streamlined, easy support removal using SUP4050B. The surface finish is exceptional and directly reflects the quality and performance of the parts."
Scaling additive manufacturing with greater flexibility
Rail and transportation manufacturers are increasingly adopting additive manufacturing to support production of on-demand spare parts, reducing lead times and lowering inventory costs, particularly across long-life assets and maintenance operations.
"At Siemens Mobility, we see additive manufacturing as a key enabler of flexible production in the railway industry," said Christian Ochs, head of Additive Manufacturing, Siemens Mobility GmbH. "Its ability to produce complex, application-specific parts on demand supports more efficient maintenance, reduces lead times, and enhances lifecycle management across rail systems."
"Stratasys is strategically focused on mobility, transportation, automotive, and industrial applications, where our high-end additive manufacturing solutions have a real advantage in meeting production and certification requirements. The launch of FDM® PA6/66-GF30-FR demonstrates our excellence in design for mobility applications," said Rich Garrity, chief business unit officer at Stratasys. "By expanding our rail-certified FDM materials portfolio, we're enabling customers to scale additive manufacturing with greater flexibility and confidence, while producing parts when and where they're needed."
FDM® PA6/66-GF30-FR is generally available for Fortus® 450mc and F900® systems.
Engineers can review FDM PA6/66-GF30-FR's technical data and compare it against other grades directly in the Master Catalog of Plastics.