# Swiss filament: what its origin really means

> What “Swiss filament” means for PLA Swiss and PETG Swiss, what happens in Switzerland and what does not, and when the extra cost is worth it.

Canonical: https://printimir.ch/en/guides/swiss-filament-what-its-origin-means

## Swiss filament: what its origin really means

Filament spools often say “Swiss” or “Made in Switzerland”. What that means exactly is not always clear. Here is what happens in Switzerland with our Swiss filament, what does not, and when the extra cost is worth it.

### From granulate to filament

Filament is made in two steps. First the plastic itself is produced, as granulate. Then an extruder melts the granulate, colours it and draws it into an even strand that is wound onto a spool. For printing, this second step matters most: if the diameter varies, the printer pushes out sometimes more and sometimes less material.

### What happens in Switzerland with PLA Swiss and PETG Swiss

Our Swiss filament comes from Filamentfactory in Schwyz, where it is extruded on a line they built themselves. According to Filamentfactory, the diameter is measured continuously during production, and every spool gets a QR code that shows the batch and diameter history.

The raw materials do not come from Switzerland: Filamentfactory buys the PLA granulate and colour masterbatches in Germany. That is why we say “extruded in Switzerland” and not “Swiss made”.

### What changes when printing

Nothing. We use the same settings for PLA Swiss as for PLA Basic, and the same for PETG Swiss as for PETG Basic. You choose between them by use, as before: PLA for models and prototypes, PETG for parts exposed to heat, moisture or load. More in the guide [Which material for which use](https://printimir.ch/en/guides/which-3d-printing-material-for-which-use).

### When Swiss filament is worth it

Swiss filament costs a little more per gram. It makes sense if the origin matters to you or you want to pass it on, for example for parts for a company, a school or a product you sell yourself. For a replacement part where only function counts, PLA Basic or PETG Basic does the job just as well.

### What Swiss filament is not

It is not recycled material, and it is not made entirely from Swiss raw materials. It is also not a different material from PLA or PETG, just the same material produced in Switzerland.

### Frequently asked questions

#### Is Swiss filament available in every colour?

The configurator shows the available colours as soon as you choose PLA Swiss or PETG Swiss.

#### Is Swiss filament more sustainable?

We cannot say that in general. What is certain is that it is extruded in Switzerland and comes on cardboard spools. We do not have a life-cycle assessment.

#### Where can I see whether my part is made from Swiss filament?

The configurator, cart, order confirmation and invoice show “Swiss filament” next to the material.

### Read next

[3D printing with Swiss filament](https://printimir.ch/en/swiss-filament) · [Materials and sizes](https://printimir.ch/en/materials) · [Which material for which use](https://printimir.ch/en/guides/which-3d-printing-material-for-which-use) · [All guides](https://printimir.ch/en/guides)

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