3D Printing News Briefs: June 16, 2017

3D printing awards, technology, programs, printers, partnerships, and new facilities – the 3D printing hive is abuzz with news on this lovely Friday! Desktop Metal was chosen by the World Economic Forum as one of its Technology Pioneers, while Sciaky is showing off its EBAM technology at the Paris Air Show. EOS launches its new customer support program in North America and Farsoon is introducing its newest 3D printer. Cooksongold and B.M.C. form a partnership for 3D printing precious metals, Ricoh and EnvisionTEC sign a dealership agreement, and Straumann purchases a stake in Rapid Shape. Finally, the largest SLM facility in the world has opened its doors in Germany.

Desktop Metal Named One of World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers

DM Studio

Out of hundreds of candidates, Desktop Metal, which introduced its game-changing DM Studio System and Production System in April, was selected as one of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) 2017 Technology Pioneers. The 30 innovative, early-stage companies that were chosen as Technology Pioneers are recognized for their potential to advance the Fourth Industrial Revolution and have a significant impact on businesses and society through new technologies. A selection committee, made up of over 60 academics, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists, chooses the winners based on criteria like leadership, innovation, and potential impact; previous recipients include Kickstarter, Twitter, and Google. Desktop Metal was chosen due to its new approaches to metal 3D printing that increase safety, speed, and print quality while lowering costs.

“We are honored to join the prestigious roster of recipients of the World Economic Forum Tech Pioneers program. WEF has been a leader in the conceptualization and realization of Industry 4.0, and Desktop Metal is looking forward to working with them to advance industry adoption of metal additive manufacturing,” said Ric Fulop, CEO and Co-Founder of Desktop Metal.

Fulop will participate in the WEF Annual Meeting in January of 2018, as well as in dedicated Technology Pioneer community events over the next two years.

Sciaky Showcasing EBAM Technology at Paris Air Show

Metal additive manufacturing solutions provider and Phillips Service Industries, Inc. subsidiary Sciaky, Inc. will be attending the 52nd International Paris Air Show next week. The company will be showcasing its Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing (EBAM) technology at the show, so that any attendees who visit Sciaky’s exhibit can get a chance to learn what’s new with the technology that’s being used at companies like Airbus and Lockheed Martin. Sciaky’s EBAM systems are the most widely scalable metal 3D printing solution, in terms of work envelope, in the industry, able to produce parts that range from 8″ to 19′ in length. It’s also the fastest deposition process in the metal AM market, and its Interlayer Real-time Imaging and Sensing System (IRISS) combines quality and control as it senses and digitally self-adjusts the metal deposition.

Bob Phillips, Vice President of Marketing at Sciaky, said, “Sciaky is looking forward to exhibiting at the Paris Air Show. Our EBAM technology continues to drive innovation for aerospace giants like Airbus, Lockheed Martin and Gulstream, helping push additive manufacturing into the mainstream.”

Sciaky is exhibiting in Hall 6, Stand C46 at next week’s Paris Air Show, which takes places from June 19th through the 25th at the Exhibition Center of Le Bourget.

EOS Launches Life Cycle Solutions Group in North America

Darin Chartier

EOS North America, which provides industrial 3D printing of polymers and metals, has learned that in terms of working with customers, inadequate training accounts for almost 50% of the average additive manufacturing system’s untapped potential, and 70% of a 3D printer’s downtime can be blamed for lack of necessary, preventative maintenance. To combat this problem and increase customer satisfaction, EOS has launched its Life Cycle Solutions group, which works with organizations to maximize the return on their AM investment and proactively address downtime. The group will offer complete customer support, including process improvements, product installation, machine service, material selection, and upgrades.

In addition, EOS recruited machine tool and service industry expert Darin Chartier as the Director of Life Cycle Solutions; he previously held director positions at Midwest Industrial Tools and GF Machining Solutions.

“Realizing the massive potential of AM is challenging and customers often look to us for advice. What we can do for customers extends beyond the point of sale and we needed someone to champion that effort,” explained Glynn Fletcher, President of EOS North America. “Darin’s entire career has been focused on ensuring customer satisfaction in the machine tool industry and that makes him a perfect fit to lead our new Life Cycle Solutions group.”

Farsoon Debuts New Industrial eForm 3D Printer

China-based Farsoon Technologies, which began offering direct sales of its metal additive manufacturing solutions to North American customers in December, has introduced its newest 3D printer. The industrial eForm is the first industrial plastic laser sintering system that’s available for less than $100,000 – breaking the cost barrier without compromising reliability or quality. The printer has premium components for key electrical and optical systems, and is fully integrated at the company’s facility in Austin, Texas. The eForm features breakthrough processing systems, which can produce functional, highly detailed parts when combined with Farsoon’s full set of powerful control software. It comes standard with a streamlined, touchscreen-based user interface configuration for the production environment, features an eight-zone heater and intelligent temperature control systems, and has a build size of 250 x 250 x 350 mm.

The eForm 3D printer adds to Farsoon’s growing list of industrial plastic and metal laser sintering systems, which include the HT403P, the FS121M, and the FS271M, which was released in January.

Cooksongold Partners with B.M.C. srl for Precious Metal 3D Printing

Italian jewelry producer B.M.C. srl is collaborating with the largest jewelry supplier in the UK, Cooksongold, to leverage its precious metal 3D printing division in order to drive Italy’s 3D printed precious metal sector. B.M.C. will use the Precious M 080 jewelry direct precious metal 3D printing system to offer a complete 3D precious metal service and enhance its Specialized Services and Products operation. EOS and Cooksongold teamed up in 2014 to develop the Precious M 080, which is the first direct precious metal 3D printing system designed exclusively for the jewelry, watch, and precious metals industries, and it expands upon EOS technology to offer jewelry makers the freedom and power to create beautiful, complex jewelry in hours. B.M.C. does not hide from the challenges involved with developing technology, and its adoption of the M 080 system embodies the values of the company.

“We are always looking to incorporate the latest technology and production possibilities, Direct Precious Metal 3D printing with the M 080 system provides us with another tool and production method which will ensure we can continue to push the boundaries of jewel and watch creation,” said Carlo Massavelli, CEO and Chairman of B.M.C. srl.

Ricoh Japan and EnvisionTEC Sign Dealership Agreement

Desktop and full-production 3D printer and materials provider EnvisionTEC just signed a dealership agreement with Tokyo-based Ricoh Japan Co., Ltd., part of global imaging and electronics company the Ricoh Group. As per the agreement, Ricoh Japan will start selling 3D printers, training, materials, and support in Japan later this year with EnvisionTEC GmbH, the German arm of EnvisionTEC’s group of companies. The Ricoh Group, which operates in about 200 countries and regions, is focused on developing a 3D printer business that leverages the company’s 20 years of experience designing 3D printing products in order to offer more 3D printing services to its customers.

Ricoh Japan chose EnvisionTEC as a partner due to the smooth surface finish and high precision the 15-year-old company’s DLP and 3SP 3D printers offer. From June 21st through the 23rd, Ricoh Japan will exhibit EnvisonTEC technology at the 28th Design Engineering & Manufacturing Solutions Expo in Tokyo.

Straumann Acquires 35% Stake in Rapid Shape

To accelerate the adoption of 3D printing technology in dentistry, Swiss tooth replacement solutions company Straumann and German 3D printer manufacturer Rapid Shape have deepened their existing partnership: Straumann has purchased, for an undisclosed sum, a 35% non-controlling stake in Rapid Shape. This acquisition follows a non-exclusive distribution agreement that allows Straumann to sell Rapid Shape’s 3D printers worldwide. Rapid Shape will maintain its open business model, while investing further in expanding production, development, and its service footprint. The company’s compact 3D printers allow dental labs to quickly and efficiently produce models, surgical drill templates, and temporary prosthetic restorations. Straumann will sell Rapid Shape’s 3D printers under its own brand, adding connectivity to its validated digital workflow for tooth replacement.

“Straumann boosts our existing distribution network thanks to its large sales force, global presence and powerful brand,” said Rapid Shape CEO Andreas Schultheiss. “This partnership safeguards our independence as an entrepreneurial company and provides us with the means to continue developing the leading-edge additive manufacturing systems for dental labs and practices as well as for the hearing-aid and jewellery industries.”

Grand Opening of Largest SLM Facility In the World

[L-R) Prof. Dr. Doris Samm, Prorector for Research and Innovation at Aachen University of Applied Sciences; Prof. Dr. Andreas Gebhard, Dean of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics at Aachen University of Applied Sciences; Prof. Dr. Reinhart Poprawe, Director of Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT

This month, the Aachen University of Applied Sciences, together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, opened the world’s largest SLM facility, the Aachen Center for 3D Printing. The Center is located in the new Digital Photonic Production industry building on the RWTH Aachen campus, and roughly 40 industry and research guests were invited to the official opening of the facility. The Aachen Center for 3D Printing will be conducting a three-year SLM-XL research project aimed at developing the SLM process chain for large-volume metal components, and Concept Laser’s new XLine 2000R SLM system, featuring a massive build envelope of 800 x 400 x 500 mm, plays an important part. The unit will speed up the production of large-volume functional prototypes, and the project team, consisting of over 15 partners from several industry sectors, plans to 3D print large-volume tools that are adapted to provide custom functions and would be nearly impossible to produce without 3D printing technology.

“The new joint SLM facility offers SMEs the opportunity to implement their own additive projects on an XXL scale using a facility that costs two million euros; a price tag generally too high for any individual company,” said Sebastian Bremen, team manager SLM productivity at Fraunhofer ILT. “Thanks to the Aachen Center for 3D Printing, SMEs now also have access to a technology that can make them more competitive and innovative. In addition, this unit is another important step towards establishing a joint research group between Fraunhofer ILT and the University of Aachen.”

Discuss in the News Briefs forum at 3DPB.com.