3D Systems and Stratasys have been the leaders within the 3D printing space for years. Just recently Hewlett Packard jumped into the mix, with plans of disrupting the space by 2016. With HP’s new Multi Jet Fusion technology, many believe that 3D Systems and Stratasys both have some catching up to do. For those who thought that these two companies would simply roll over and die after the announcement by HP, they are simply wrong.
2016 is still over a year away, and 3D Systems and Stratasys are not showing any signs of giving up. Just last week, Stratasys announced 11 new high performance 3D printers and materials, which will be on display at EuroMold 2014, taking place in Frankfurt, Germany from November 25-28.
Today it was 3D Systems’ turn to announce their plans for EuroMold.
“We are bringing to EuroMold 2014 our most advanced design and manufacturing products ever, including a completely new generation of Direct Metal Printing (DMP), Stereolithography (SLA®) and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS®) printers and materials,” said Cathy Lewis, Chief Marketing Officer, 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD). “We are also debuting the full power of our design-to-manufacturing digital thread with cloud and desktop functionality and utility.”
While HP’s Multi Jet Fusion technology, which is behind these new, supposedly groundbreaking 3D printers, promises speeds of up to 10 times that of current 3D printing technology, the keyword here is “current”. Many within the industry are expecting 3D Systems to have machines capable of speeds just as fast, if not faster, prior to the release of HP’s line of printers in 2016. In fact, earlier this year the company teased an innovative assembly line-like framework for mass additive manufacturing, which will be used in the production of modules for Google’s Project Ara smartphones, and is said to be 50X faster than the current technology on the market. Could the end of this month showcase some of this new, faster, technology from the 3D printing giant? It very well may.
3D Systems also reiterated today, their commitment to education by speaking of plans to sponsor the TCT Bright Minds Program, which allows students and the engineers of tomorrow to experience the company’s Cube 3D printer, as well as their various design creation tools. These will also be featured and showcased at EuroMold 2014, as will a demonstration of the company’s ‘groundbreaking engineers’ desktop workflow platform’.
For those attending EuroMold, you can visit 3D Systems at booths D69 and F90 in hall 11, to see their latest, greatest technology within the 3D printing space, and perhaps determine for yourselves if they have what it takes to compete with technology giant HP Inc..
What do you think 3D Systems will be unveiling? Will it have the ability to make HP’s announcement look less significant? Discuss in the 3D Systems at EuroMold forum thread on 3DPB.com.
