News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
Printrbot, a desktop 3D printer manufacturer that came onto the scene in 2011, has regrettably announced it is shutting its doors. The company’s website indicates that low sales were the reason for it closing down.
Danish 3D printing firm 3D Printhuset has been granted the first EU patent for a construction 3D printer. The tender was given by Belgian organization Kamp C, which chose 3D Printhuset’s modular BOD2 construction printer.
German chemical giant BASF and Belgian 3D printing company Materialise will be expanding an existing partnership to advance materials and software for the additive manufacturing market. BASF has also announced it will be investing $25 million into Materialise.
From GE Additive’s many announcements to Norsk TItanium’s updates, the Farnborough Airshow in the UK has been a hotbed for aerospace AM news this week. One of the latest stories to come out of the international event is a collaboration between metal powder producer LPW Technology and metal AM company Additive Industries. Through the partnership, the companies say they will work together to further integrate industrial additive manufacturing of metal parts for the aerospace industry and other high-end applications.
As part of an initiative to develop next-generation advanced materials and manufacturing processes, Lockheed Martin and Arconic, signed a two-year Joint Development Agreement (JDA). Together, the companies will develop customized lightweight material systems and advanced manufacturing processes, such as metal 3D printing, to advance current and next-generation aerospace and defense solutions—including new structures and systems not currently in existence.
As part of an initiative to develop next-generation advanced materials and manufacturing processes, Lockheed Martin and Arconic, signed a two-year Joint Development Agreement (JDA). Together, the companies will develop customized lightweight material systems and advanced manufacturing processes, such as metal 3D printing, to advance current and next-generation aerospace and defense solutions—including new structures and systems not currently in existence.
On one hand, the acknowledgment by the EU Parliament of the growing impact that 3D printing is having on just about every segment of manufacturing can be welcomed as a positive evolution. On the other hand CECIMO – the European Machine Tool Industry Association – is warning against the risk that EU 3D printing regulations may hold if not properly thought out.
Aerospace industry leader, Triumph Group has acquired two systems from GE Additive, as well as a range of AddWorksTM consultancy service packages, to help further its additive manufacturing strategy. It seems that more and more traditional industrial giants are coming to the (inevitable) realization that AM is the future and that they need to invest to get themselves on board of the soon-departing AM flight.
With the Farnborough Airshow in full swing, we’ve seen a lot of aerospace-centric AM news this week. Norsk Titanium, the developer of Rapid Plasma Deposition (RPD), an FAA-certified, OEM-qualified AM process for producing titanium parts, has not been left behind in the excitement as it has made announcements in collaboration with both Spirit AeroSystems and QuesTek Innovations.
Prodways Group has acquired the US 3D printing maker Solidscape Inc., a subsidiary of Stratasys. The moves further marks French 3D printer manufacturer Prodways as a leading player in industrial 3D printing. The company has been posting the highest revenue growth rates among the major publicly listed industry players. Although it has not enjoyed a very high visibility, SolidScape has been a major player in 3D printing for over two decades as its wax 3D printing technology is a jewelry industry favorite.