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How 3D printed eyewear frames began, at Hoet Consumer Products

by Consumer

Bruges-based Hoet Studio can be considered one of the first pioneers in seriously introducing 3D printing for eyewear frames production. The studio, led by Bieke Hoet, has been 3D printing frames since 2011 and is to date the only manufacturer of luxury 3D printed metal frames in its Couture collection. Hoet began 3D printing frames with support from local company Materialise (also headquartered in Belgium, in nearby Leuven). The two companies have since collaborated on multiple projects which have been instrumental in creating an entirely new vertical for AM. Now, the two roads cross again in this interview which we propose to our readers for the occasion of our AM Focus on Eyewear.

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Sushi Singularity: the future of food is customized and 3D printed Food

by Consumer

Satisfying a sushi craving is already an incredibly rewarding thing. Japanese startup Open Meals, however, believes it can make that experience even more rewarding, not just for your taste buds but for your overall body. The innovative company, which sparked interest at last year’s SXSW event for its 3D printed 8-bit sushi, is now proposing a new restaurant, Sushi Singularity, which will serve 3D printed sushi filled with the nutrients your body needs.

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Markforged raises $82 million in Series D funding round Money & Funding

by Technologies

3D printer manufacturer Markforged has raised $82 million through a Series D investment round led by Summit Partners. The funding round also saw participation from existing investors Matrix Partners, Microsoft’s Venture Fund M12 and Porsche SE. The multi-million dollar investment will enable Markforged to accelerate its product roadmap—including the release of mass production printers and a range of new materials,—to ramp up its global expansion and to reinforce the company’s position in the global manufacturing industry.

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Stanley Black & Decker and AstroPrint create distributed network of 3D printers AM Industry

by Design

AstroPrint has announced a partnership with Stanley Black & Decker to connect, control and optimize their fleet of 3D printers across multiple facilities. With AstroPrint’s Enterprise Cloud, Stanley Black & Decker will effortlessly automate their additive manufacturing systems and workflows on a single platform, ensuring that resources are properly shared and optimized, while gaining actionable intelligence on productivity and growth opportunities.

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Getting the “insights” at Luxexcel, the only company that can 3D print ophthalmic lenses 3D Printing Processes

by Consumer

Among the thousands of companies that make up the rapidly evolving global landscape for additive manufacturing, there are some that stand out for the uniqueness of their technology and applications. Companies that have driven their technological approach to AM in new directions, such as the production of houses, food, electronics and optics. One of these companies is certainly Luxexcel, the only company that is today able to digitally manufacture ophthalmic lenses for complex prescriptions.

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Deutsche Bahn grows AM railway applications with 3YOURMIND software Transportation

by Business

Within the transport industry, German railway leader Deutsche Bahn was an early adopter of 3D printing technologies—five years ago, it even founded its own 3D printing division. As of 2018, the company reported having 3D printed nearly 15,000 spare parts and other products for its trains, including coat hooks, headrests, cable boxes and more. Now, the company is aiming to ramp up its additive efforts by extending its partnership with software provider 3YOURMIND.