News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
Known to be an innovating force in the fashion industry, Dutch designer Iris van Herpen has expanded her boundary pushing design into a new frontier with her recent Shift Souls collection. The series, which was unveiled on the runway in Paris last week, consists of a number of billowy, celestial garments as well as head-turning 3D printed face jewelry.
OHB System AG, a leading European space company and a subsidiary of tech group OHB SE, signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop a large-format 3D printer destined for the International Space Station (ISS). The 3D printer, to be used with high performance thermoplastics, will be developed through a OHB System-led consortium consisting of German space company Sonaca Space GmbH, Portuguese 3D printing company BEEVERYCREATIVE and Ireland’s Athlone Institute of Technology.
The dental applications market is now increasingly seen as a key production market for 3D printing technologies and many feel that the paradigm shift will come to completion at this year’s IDS show in Koln. Several companies are gearing up, including ceramic 3D printer manufacturer Lithoz. The Austrian company will be presenting the new CeraFab 7500 Dental system at IDS next 12-16 March 2019.
Demonstrating lighting speed 3D printing will inevitably get a lot of Youtube hits, but where does speed really matter? If you are able to make Eiffel tower miniatures at super fast rates, how would the entire logistics, inventory, distribution etc. compare to how a Chinese factory is already doing it?
Takumi Yamamoto, a visionary automotive designer, has drawn inspiration from various things in his work, but his most recent car design might be his most personal yet. As a tribute to one of the most influential and iconic rock stars of our time, Yamamoto has created a 3D printed concept car inspired by the one and only David Bowie.
Industrial 3D printing company Essentium, Inc. reported today it has raised $22.2 million through a Series A funding round led by BASF Venture Capital. Other investors that participated in the investment round include Materialise, Genesis Park and other existing seed round investors. The large investment will enable Essentium to scale its manufacturing, engineering, international distribution, sales and marketing operations for its recently launched High Speed Extrusion (HSE) technology.
Cooksongold, part of the Heimerle + Meule Group, continues their additive manufacturing partnership with EOS for use of the technology in the jewelry and watch industry as well as for broader industry applications. At the Vicenzaoro show starting on January 18, 2019, in Vicenza, Cooksongold launches new precious metal parameters for the EOS M 100 System that will replace the system formerly known as PRECIOUS M 080.
Microlight3D, a French manufacturer of ultra high resolution micro 3D printing systems, has unveiled its latest product: Altraspin, a compact, turnkey 3D printer developed for the production of complex micro-scale parts with sub-micron resolution. Like most of Microlight3D’s other products, the 3D printer is suitable for a range of industrial and scientific applications.
As always, the original Vicenza Oro 2019 jewelry fair, the one that actually takes place in Vicenza, Italy (one of the primary global hubs for jewelry manufacturing), offered a clear cut view of what the state of the art in jewelry 3D printing has to offer. While the benefits of implementing AM, either for investment casting or direct precious metal powder production, are now clearer than ever, the segment still struggles with making investments on technology. For this reason, the use of 3D printing as a service is now becoming the dominant path for most innovative jewelers to access the future of jewelry manufacturing and the growing demand for more complex and original geometries.
Crocs is a company known for its ability to innovate in the field of footwear, introducing a new and broadly appreciated casual shoe concept to the market. In order to maintain the high quality standards that have always distinguished the company, Crocs recently introduced the use of additive manufacturing to its production process—specifically advanced 3D printing solutions provided by Italian 3D printing company 3ntr.