News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC), a leading developer of Micro Modular Reactors – MMR – systems for the production of safe, commercially competitive, clean and reliable nuclear energy, has adopted two 3D printers from the recently updated X-Series line of binder jetting systems, with two additional machines to follow this year.
Seiko Epson Corporation has developed an industrial 3D printer that can use commonly available third-party materials to produce strong, accurate industrial parts of various sizes and functions. 3D printers with these features will have uses in a far wider range of applications, including in the production of parts for final products, and will enable users to mass-customize their goods in support of small-batch production.
Finland-based bioprinting firm Brinter, together with extrusion technology developer Puredyne, has announced the launch of its new Visco Bio printhead for use with its 3D bioprinters.
KOHLER, an American manufacturing company, best known for its plumbing products, has collaborated with Daniel Arsham, a contemporary, New York-based artist, to create Rock01 – a 3D printed sink created using paste-based pneumatic material extrusion. Extrusion-based additive manufacturing (EAM), often used for the rapid production of metals and ceramics, works by extruding the metal or ceramic material in solid powder form and mixing the powder with an expendable viscous fluid. In this case, pneumatic extrusion nozzles were used.
The venture capital arm of German chemicals firm Evonik has invested in Nevada-based 3D printed pharmaceutical firm Laxxon Medical to bring the mass production of 3D printed tablets closer to reality.
Fitchwork is a collaborative architecture, fashion, and product design practice founded by Travis Fitch. Driven by an obsession with pattern, Travis combines geometric research with novel design and fabrication tools to create radical-yet-rational forms.
French 3D printing company Prodways Group achieved a solid end to the year 2021, marked by the good performance of all its activities and major orders for machines and materials. Sustained revenue growth in Q4 (up 17% to €20.2 million) enabled the company to post annual growth of +23.7%, thus exceeding the +20% target communicated last September. Total revenue for the Prodways FY 2021 was €70.8 million, of which €44 million from systems and €26.9 million from services.
REFORM, the vehicle specialist, develops and manufactures special vehicles for year-round use in mountain agriculture and municipal areas. For flexible and innovative product development, the company relies on additive manufacturing and the Upper Austrian 3D specialist Prirevo.
Luxexcel, the technology leader for 3D printed prescription lenses and Lumus, the pioneering innovator of reflective waveguide displays for Augmented Reality (AR), have co-developed a demonstrator of an Augmented Reality prescription lens solution that enables OEMs to address users’ prescription requirements in their smart eyewear products and make the lens solution thin, durable, and to be worn like fashion eyewear lenses.
Markforged Holding Corporation reported that its revenues increased 27%, to $91.2 million, in FY 2021, from $71.9 million in 2020. Gross profit grew 26%, to $52.9 million, in 2021 from $41.9 million in 2020 and gross margin was 58% in 2021, consistent with 2020. However net loss from operations also grew during the Markforged FY 2021, to $61.0 million (compared to a net loss from operations of $17.7 million in the year prior). Quarterly (Q4) revenues also grew. The result is even more significant as the company generated almost as much revenue as its competitor Dekstop Metal did after acquiring two large AM companies (and several smaller ones).