Stratasys Expands Global Manufacturing Network with Irish Partner SCHIVO3D

SCHIVO, from their facilities on Cork Road in Waterford, Ireland, works with companies from around the world on a variety of specialized manufacturing solutions on 3D printing for aerospace, architecture, automotive, commercial and consumer products, entertainment, dental, defense, education and medical applications.

Now the SCHIVO Group has added their 3D printing division in partnership with Stratasys Direct Manufacturing via that company’s Global Manufacturing Network to create SCHIVO3D.

Jeff Hanson, the director of the Stratasys Global Manufacturing Network, says the deal will service one of the fastest growing markets in Europe.

“This expansion allows us to produce parts for a growing number of our customers who have operations in Ireland and the UK, and gives us a footprint in one of the fastest growing manufacturing markets in Europe,” Hanson says. “Instead of producing parts in the U.S. and shipping them to western Europe, we can now send the file to SCHIVO3D to produce locally. It’s direct digital manufacturing on an international scale.”

The Stratasys Global Manufacturing Network now includes eight additive manufacturing service providers who can provide localized manufacturing and capacity to reduce costs and lead times.

“Both companies are committed to bringing innovative technologies and solutions to the market to improve product development and manufacturing for customers,” says Tony Flanagan, the sales manager for SCHIVO3D. “The growing manufacturing industries in western Europe – including medical device, aerospace and oil and gas – can now enjoy the benefits of additive manufacturing services and expertise.”

Flanagan says SCHIVO3D is AS9100 certified for aerospace, ISO 13485 certified for the medical device industry and also offers Fused Deposition Modeling services along with and a wide variety of engineering-grade thermoplastics.

He adds that SCHIVO3D, an engineering sub-contract manufacturing company, also provides services in precision machining, sheet metal fabrication and sub-contract assembly. The company also has operations in Leicestershire, UK.

Stratasys Direct Manufacturing came about when Stratasys merged three renowned 3D printing service bureaus – Solid Concepts Inc., Harvest Technologies and RedEye – into one and took up a position as technology leaders. The group was tasked with encouraging designers and engineers to challenge conventional approaches to manufacturing, and the team of engineers has spent a combined five decades perfecting AM methods.

Engineers from the group offer expertise in aerospace and medical to consumer products and entertainment, and Stratasys Direct Manufacturing now offers nine cutting edge manufacturing facilities across the United States.

Some 700 employees operate an arsenal of additive manufacturing equipment capable of using custom formulated materials to provide the solutions for designers and engineers. The various locations use PolyJet, Stereolithography, Fused Deposition Modeling, Laser Sintering, Direct Metal Laser Sintering, Urethane Casting, CNC Machining and Tooling + Molding processes to service customers advanced manufacturing needs.

“Setting up strategic partnerships globally to advance the adoption of Additive Manufacturing technologies is something we have done successfully for over ten years,” Hanson says.

What do you think of Stratasys’ strategy for expanding their worldwide influence in 3D printing and additive manufacturing? Let us know in the SCHIVO3D and Stratasys forum thread on 3DPB.com.