What if 3D printing technology could finally handle the thick, functional materials needed for real-world manufacturing? That’s the question Berlin-based startup Quantica set out to answer—redefining what’s possible with industrial inkjet systems. In this episode of the Lattice Podcast, we sit down with co-founder and co-inventor Ben Hartkopp to explore how Quantica’s revolutionary printhead technology enables additive manufacturing with high-viscosity materials, from medical-grade silicones to conductive adhesives. Designed to overcome the limitations of traditional 3D printers and screen printing methods, their NovoJet system is poised to transform industries such as healthcare, automotive, electronics, and beyond.
🎙️ Lattice Podcast | Host: Jenny Chen, MD | Guest: Ben Hartkopp, Co-founder of Quantica
“Most people overlook printheads. But when you build one that can handle materials 10,000 times thicker than ink, you don’t just improve printing—you reinvent manufacturing itself.”
A Startup’s Unlikely Pivot to Global Impact
Printhead technology may not seem disruptive to most people. However, for Ben Hartkopp and his team at Quantica, it has become the key to unlocking manufacturing possibilities that were previously impossible.
In this episode of the Lattice Podcast, we explore how this Berlin-based startup has evolved from quietly developing specialized printheads to capturing the attention of global players in the automotive, healthcare, and aerospace sectors.
Starting with a simple challenge—ejecting viscous resin for electronics—Quantica’s early experiments revealed a key limitation in the market: no printhead on Earth could handle materials above 20 millipascal-seconds (mPa·s). Today, their patented NovoJet™ printhead handles materials up to 15,000 mPa·s at room temperature—orders of magnitude beyond anything commercially available.
From Frustration to Breakthrough
Ben shares how, in 2018, he and a colleague were repeatedly frustrated by commercial printheads that failed when exposed to thicker, functional materials. Determined to solve the problem, they designed a printhead from scratch using piezo crystal actuators and a custom compliant mechanism that amplifies motion. The result? A precision ejection system capable of jetting ultra-viscous adhesives, silicones, and particle-filled pastes—even at room temperature.
“We didn’t set out to build something revolutionary,” says Hartkopp. “We just wanted a tool that worked.”
What they built, however, has broader implications than they could’ve imagined.
NovoJet™: Printing the Future of Materials
At the heart of Quantica’s tech stack is NovoJet™—a proprietary printhead platform that enables additive manufacturing with viscous, high-performance materials. Unlike traditional inkjet printers that work with thin fluids, NovoJet can handle:
High-load adhesives used in electric motors (eMotors)
Functional coatings for wearables, automotive, and aerospace
It’s not just about materials. Quantica is also building an ecosystem around its core tech. This integrated approach enables companies to transition seamlessly from materials science to scalable production within a digital printing framework.
The Pivot: From 3D Printing to Manufacturing Tech
What makes this interview especially compelling is Ben’s candid reflection on Quantica’s pivot. Originally envisioned as a 3D printing company for electronics and biomedical devices, the team soon realized their most significant immediate impact would come from improving existing 2D manufacturing processes.
“Everyone wanted 3D printing to change the world. But most printed products were still prototypes,” Ben explains. “Real industry pain points were in screen printing, dispensing, and coating—areas we could fix today.”
Their technology is now being used to replace screen printing and manual adhesive deposition—critical steps in sectors like:
Automotive (e.g. coating rotor stacks in eMotors)
Aerospace (e.g. high-strength elastomers)
Medical (e.g. printable medical-grade silicones)
Electronics (e.g. direct-write conductives on substrates)
Bioprinting & Healthcare Potential
Healthcare remains a compelling frontier. Quantica is testing the use of viscoelastic materials that preserve cell viability during the printing process—a challenge that has long hindered bioprinting’s clinical scalability.
According to Hartkopp, their multi-material platform could support:
Scaffolds for cell-seeded implants
High-resolution functionalized hydrogels
Custom microfluidic devices
While these applications are still in early R&D, their ability to jet lab-grade silicone with no additives opens new doors for implantable medical devices, wearable biosensors, and more.
“Printing the unprintable isn’t just a tagline,” Ben notes. “It’s a necessary step to digitize how we make the materials that matter most.”
Who Will Use This Now?
Quantica’s technology is in R&D partnership or already in use by:
Global automotive suppliers
Major electronics manufacturers
Leading aerospace developers
Academic and industrial R&D labs working on novel materials
The company’s latest Series A funding, €19.7 million to date, is enabling its international expansion, including partnerships in Spain and North America.
For Founders and Future Scientists
When asked what advice he’d give to students or aspiring inventors, Ben didn’t hesitate:
“Become obsessed and become an expert in research. Read papers every day. But also—learn about politics. Because the technical part is only half the job.”
It’s a timely reminder that building a startup in deep tech isn’t just about invention—it’s about translation, team-building, and timing.
“Become obsessed and become an expert in research. Read papers every day. But also—learn about politics. Because the technical part is only half the job.”
This whitepaper, authored by Quantica, provides a comprehensive technical overview of the NovoJet printhead, its actuator design, and its ability to jet fluids with very high viscosities and particle loads. It details the engineering innovations that enable the jetting of materials previously unprintable by conventional inkjet systems, and discusses applications in additive manufacturing, including dental prosthetics and microfluidics.
This peer-reviewed paper studies the printability of UV-polymers using the Quantica printhead, analyzing rheological properties, printability at elevated temperatures, and the connection between high-frequency rheology and drop formation. It reports on practical print tests with Quantica’s technology, specifically for dental materials.
From crafting custom piezo-driven actuators to printing functional silicones for the medical field, Quantica is living proof that niche hardware, done right, can reshape entire industries. This episode offers a rare glimpse into how a breakthrough in one corner of engineering can have an unexpected ripple effect across sectors when one keeps an open mind and executes correctly.
⚠️ Disclaimer:
This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed do not constitute medical, legal, or investment advice. Emerging technologies discussed may not be FDA-approved or commercially available. Please consult professionals before applying any information shared in this episode.
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