UK Prime Minister Gives Israeli President a 3D Printed Gift

When Stratasys unveiled their new Objet500 Connex Multi-material 3D Printer a few months back, they could have never imagined one of these machines being used to create a gift , which was exchanged by two major heads of state. Well that’s just what happened on Wednesday.

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have been working on revolutionary nano particles which faciitate the growth of new cells. They have combined this research with that being done by the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center on Parkinson’s disease, to come up with a new method of regrowing brain cells to treat the horrible disease. To recognize this important research partnership, United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron presented to Israeli President Shimon Peres a 3D printed gift.

The gift, which was a model of black nano-particles suspended in a clear substance, was printed out on a new Stratasys Objet500 Connex 3D Printer, and designed by British designer, Daniel Hilldrup, who was commissioned by the British Council. The Stratasys Objet500 was able to flawlessly print out this model in different materials and colors, allowing for a very accurate model.

“We’re extremely proud to represent 3D printing in such a prestigious occasion and to push our multi-material technology to its limits, mirroring the advanced scientific research being celebrated by these nations,” says Arita Mattsoff, Vice President Marketing, Stratasys. “What’s amazing about this gift in particular is that 14 different material combinations were printed in a single part. Not only does it feature black rubber-like parts inside a clear material, each nano-particle varies in hardness and gradient mimicking the individuality of particles in real-life.”

Both high tech research institutes continue to work closely together to conquer some of man’s most horrific diseases.  What better way to recognize this work than with a gift created by a high tech device?  Discuss this story at 3D Print Board.