EnvisionTEC Continues to Expand, Becoming a Manufacturing Leader in Detroit

Just as they’ve made sure to touch upon every field where 3D printing technology has become a viable manufacturing tool, the renowned commercial and industrial 3D printing company EnvisionTEC has also wisely spread their headquarters and production facilities throughout the world. The company currently has headquarters located in both Gladbeck, Germany, and Dearborn, Michigan, as well as additional facilities in the Los Angeles area, Montreal, and in Kiev, Ukraine. As they continue to expand as a company, EnvisionTEC is becoming a household name around the globe, particularly in the greater Detroit area.

Within their Dearborn, Michigan location, expert technicians are constantly testing new materials that could be used for various products. The facility also has a training center where the EnvisionTEC employees train their customers on the use of their machines. Born in Lebanon, EnvisionTEC’s founder Al Siblani moved to the metro Detroit area as a young teenager and studied engineering at Lawrence Technological University and Wayne State University. After working with silk-screen printing, Siblani quickly became a pioneer in the budding 3D printing industry, making his first 3D printed install at General Motors way back in 1993. From there, EnvisionTEC was born in 2002, and the first industry they conquered was the custom jewelry market, followed by hearing aids and dental crowns.

“We continue to grow,” said Siblani. “In the last 18 months, we’ve doubled our manufacturing in California, we’ve doubled our manufacturing in Germany, we’ve doubled our number of people here in this building, and I think pretty soon we’re going to be out of space here. So it’s a very flourishing and growing business and we’re very happy the way it’s been going.”

Currently, EnvisionTEC has been working to develop a potentially revolutionary process that creates 3D printed carbon fiber parts for aerospace applications. All in all, Siblani’s company now has over 40 different 3D printing systems and around 120 unique patents. Since the company is privately held, they don’t release their revenue or profit figures, but they are currently the third ranked 3D printing company behind the industry giants Stratasys and 3D Systems, both of which have had their own struggles lately.

Essentially, EnvisionTEC has found their success by operating in 12 different verticals, from medical to sporting goods. According to Siblani, this diversity in products makes it impossible for the company to ever take more than a 10% hit in value. With their extensive line of 3D printers and products — which now includes hearing aids, dental crowns, custom jewelry, skin grafts, automotive parts, as well as characters used in SciFi and fantasy movies — EnvisionTEC has become a clear leader in the commercial and industrial 3D printer market.

Through the course of this year, EnvisionTEC has been showcasing their latest innovations at trade shows and expos around the globe, from their SLCOM1, which utilizes their patent pending selective lamination composite object manufacturing, to the new Micro Plus cDLM 3D printer, which was engineered specifically for jewelry production. In the recent past, they’ve also enhanced their Perfactory Vida 3D Dental Printer, and rolled out a couple of new industrial 3D printers at CES 2016. Needless to say, in an industry that has been extremely hit-or-miss for many companies, EnvisionTEC has managed to stay on an upward course, and now have perhaps the most extensive line of commercial and industrial 3D printers in the entire world. Their mounting success has made the company a bright star in a dimly lit Detroit manufacturing industry, and as they continue to expand, more jobs and opportunities will continue to arise. Discuss further in the EnvisionTEC 3D Printing forum over at 3DPB.com.

[Source/Images: Detroit Free Press]