3D Printing: The Stories We Didn’t Cover This Week — March 12

In this week’s 3D printing news, we see that change is in the air — as always. Shapeways has just added a new coating that will make your 3D scanned and printed selfies look even better, and Stratasys Asia Pacific has appointed a new General Manager to focus on its China operations. Over at Materialise, there’s been a big change. The company has unveiled a new logo that favors straighter edge lines, softened with new lettering. (i.materialise’s website has also followed suit with changes as well.) Oceanz Professional reports that it is the first 3D printing company to receive ISO 13485  certification for its 3D printed medical devices, and Oxford Performance Materials has been honored for innovation on Fast Company’s annual list.

Stratasys Appoints New General Manager in China

As 3D printing grows in China, companies will be seeking improved ways to stay in the 3D printing game. This includes regional subsidiary Stratasys Asia Pacific, which recently appointed Lucy Zhai as the new General Manager of Stratasys Greater China. Zhai’s job will focus on promoting Stratasys’ 3D printing operations across the region. She has several years of experience at various leading multinational companies, including Novelis and General Electic (GE). In her new role, she will promote 3D printing solutions to the China market, and represent the company at a variety of regional events and conferences.

Zhai says that she is excited about this opportunity to empower Stratasys customers:

“I am excited to take up my new role working with an excellent team to promote innovative 3D printing solutions to the China market. 3D printing has transformed many businesses and Stratasys has been the leading player in the field. I look forward to expanding its solutions to key sectors across China thus empowering our customers with an innovative way of design, manufacturing and production to maximize business efficiency.”

This week, Zhai will join the Stratasys Asia Pacific team at TCT Asia + Personalize 2016 in Shanghai. Omer Krieger, General Manager of Stratasys Asia Pacific and Japan, will join her to address regional 3D printing trends and answer any questions.

Oxford Performance Materials Honored for Innovation

Every year, Fast Company releases an issue dedicated to the 50 Most Innovative Companies in the World. This list honors “leading enterprises and rising newcomers that exemplify the best in nimble business and impactful innovation.” This year, Oxford Performance Materials was selected in the biotech category as one of the Most Innovative Companies for its SpineFab® VBR implant system, which received 510(k) clearance from the FDA in July of 2015.

Severine Zygmont, President of OPM Biomedical, comments on this acknowledgement.

“We are truly honored to be included on this prestigious list of innovation leaders. Our product strategy is focused on a demanding healthcare environment that is undergoing rapid change. Through our OsteoFab® product lines, we strive to improve clinical outcomes while reducing overall costs – developing disruptive solutions that will enjoy burgeoning demand across the globe. Our plan is to meet those unmet needs through advanced materials science, innovative product design, and smart distribution.”

OPM Biomedical has also received previous FDA clearances for several of its other products, including its cranial prostheses line for surgeons around the world, which has helped establish the company as a leading advanced materials and 3D printing company. OPM also provides third parties with contract manufacturing services for a wide spectrum of 3D printed biomedical implant applications.

Oceanz Professional First to Receive Medical 3D Printing Certification

European legislation has strict regulations for the production of medical devices. The worldwide and industrywide “ISO 13485 certification” is the medical version of “ISO 9001,” and it creates guidelines for medical device manufacturers. The Quality Management System ISO 13485: 2003 is accepted worldwide and industry wide. Oceanz Professional is the first 3D printing company to receive this certification, which will remain valid for 3 years with annual auditing to maintain this status.

This certification sets a gold standard for future 3D printing companies to follow. Erik van der Garde, Director of Oceanz, comments on this achievement:

“By receiving the ISO 13485 certificate, we are further distinguishing ourselves in the market. It was our main goal, as it proves our dedication to conform quality and the legal demands that accompany medical 3D printing. Through our quality management system, we are offering our medical clients more reliability and quality. It also provides possibilities for new markets, and Oceanz is thus working to further the professionalization process of the 3D printing industry.”

Congratulations to Oceanz Professional for this accomplishment, and we look forward to seeing more from the company in the future.

Shapeways Makes Coated Full Color Sandstone Available

Since 3D printed selfies seem to be here to stay, Shapeways is giving you more options to make that selfie figure – or any other figure that you have 3D printed – a glossier, polished, and more finished looking one. Coated Full Color Sandstone is Shapeways’ latest addition to its growing list of materials. The coating is “…sprayed on, providing an even and consistent surface finish. It adds some water resistance and durability to all your Full Color Sandstone products, and is especially great for 3D scans.”

The advent of the 3D printed selfie is one of the big motivators here for achieving a glossier and more colorful finished look. Shapeways even offered several sites last year in New York and the Netherlands where people could get 3D scanned and have their selfie figures printed. This adds even more of an incentive for people to try this whole scanning/selfie thing out. In New York, you can get scanned at the Pixel Academy, and in the Netherlands, there are multiple locations to check out as well. Scanning and 3D printing your own selfie has never been easier, more accessible, and now, with the addition of Shapeways’ new Coated Full Color Sandstone, it’s also never looked better.

Materialise Unveils New Logo

Speaking of never looking better — the Materialise logo has always been based on a laser beam, which makes sense, right? But the old logo was “designed to evoke a laser beam striking the surface of a bed of liquid resin: the starting point of 3D printing in stereolithography, the first printing technology at Materialise.” But not only do times change, they change quickly for the 3D printing industry, which sees rapid-pace development and applications in multiple sectors. So Materialise decided its logo needed an upgrade.

Companies know their logos are important, so what’s the thinking behind the new logo?

“In our new visual style, you find the characteristic Materialise blue now enhanced with a gradient from light to dark for a more dynamic feel. The triangular motif of the logo pays homage to the triangles which populate 3D design files. Meanwhile, a new, softly rounded typeface for the Materialise wordmark balances the crisp angles of the symbol design. All throughout the new design, the clean, horizontal line continues to symbolize the backbone that Materialise offers for the 3D printing industry — with a steadfast commitment to innovation, quality and reliability.”

How does that sound to you for Materialise’s new logo retrofitting?

i.materialise Website Gets Makeover

Speaking of retrofitting, in conjunction with Materialise’s new logo i.materialise has updated its website to offer a new design, more features, improved navigation process, and, of course, more information. In the Design section, you can learn to create 3D printable models. You can also buy 3D printed items instead of designing your own things, and this has become more convenient. At the Customizable Products shop you can tweak existing designs to personalize them before ordering your print. In the Sell section, learn about starting your own 3D printing business. On the Learn page you can find answers to FAQ’s as well as more specific information to support your particular 3D printing needs. Finally, for inspiration, check out the Inspire page where you can see what others are designing and printing, and connect with people, join design challenges, and attend the next event! What interested you most in this week’s news? Discuss in the 3D Printing Weekly News forum over at 3DPB.com.