0669874b0fffd424a566292f4d69c8bb.jpg

Thales Alenia Space ramps up 3D printing with series production for satellites Aerospace

by Aerospace

Thales Alenia Space, a French-Italian aerospace manufacturer, has announced the next step in its additive manufacturing adoption: series production. The company, which first began its journey with AM in 2015 with 3D printed aluminum antenna brackets for the TürkmenÄlem/MonacoSAT satellite and polymer tube supports for the Iridium NEXT constellation, will begin turning out 3D printed components for telecom satellites built on its all-electric Spacebus Neo platform.

41ef61de37b9ca24fa5495786e42a402.jpg

Additive Industries sells first MetalFAB1 3D printer in China AM Industry

by Business

After establishing a more direct presence in the country last month, Dutch metal 3D printer maker Additive Industries reported their first order in China. Leveragin the recent appointment of Sinsun-Tech Corporation Ltd as its agent, they sold the first MetalFAB1 system to a Chinese customer. Additive Industries won the tender of the Maritime Equipment Technology Institute of Jiangsu University of Science & Technology and will help the institute to accelerate production of heat exchangers for Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) applications.

fdb98a2f6bdf139fb701b2858a324d28.jpg

Protolabs and Wohlers to host immersive DfAM course AM Software

by Design

Minnesota-based digital manufacturing company Protolabs is partnering with additive manufacturing consultants from Wohlers Associates to bring the industry an immersive course focused on design for additive manufacturing (DfAM). The exclusive event is aimed at accelerating DfAM by helping engineers and designers develop practical methods and strategies for exploiting 3D printing to the fullest.

18ecbe411020e255ce0b13325cd07b16.jpg

Solvay and Aerosint developing cost-effective SLS for 3D printing specialty polymers 3D Printing Processes

by Business

Solvay, a Belgian chemicals company with a growing AM materials portfolio, has announced a new research agreement with Belgian 3D printing company Aerosint, which has developed a fascinating new approach to SLS that enables multi-material printing. Through the partnership, the companies will combine their respective expertise to develop a cost-effective SLS 3D printing process for high-performance polymers.

e9d2420152a7466a9102bec43cf57af9.jpg

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.

b7ca4d5d7c0da71e94b79f9f8593fb2d.jpg

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.

64dad027c941cbe0e0ad35f2d09a604d.jpg

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.

5b554ed4d2df749dd7611f4b37bec582.jpg

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.