News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
Open Bionics, a UK-based company that develops low cost 3D printed bionic hands, has raised a whopping £4.66 million ($5.9 million) through a recent investment round. Investors include Foresight Williams Technology EIS Fund, Downing Ventures, Ananda Impact Ventures and Rathbone Nominees.
Dutch 3D printing service provider Oceanz has announced the acquisition of Heijcon 3D Solutions, another Netherlands-based AM service bureau. With the acquisition, Ede-based Oceanz aims to strengthen its position in the professional additive manufacturing market.
On Tuesday, January 8, Dr. Samuel Joseph, Jr., assisted by Dr. Andrew Moulton of Joseph Spine became the first medical equip in the world to use Osseus Fusion Systems‘ revolutionary 3D Printed Aries Titanium Spinal Implant. The device was cleared by FDA just last August.
FIT AG has closed Boston Ceramics and is moving its Boston-based 3D printing production capability to their Lupburg facility in Germany. Boston Ceramics was founded by Andrew Jeffrey. After FIT’s acquisition in 2017, Jeffrey had remained as president.
Metal additive manufacturing processes are helping engineers to reinvent how parts are designed and produced. In the medical sector, orthopaedic implants are proving to be one of the key applications where metal AM is really having an impact, as the technology enables patient specific structures, as well as complex porous geometries which in turn allow for more lightweight implants.
In September 2018, French 3D printing company Prodways appointed Stefano Rebecchi as its new Marketing Manager. With an extensive technical background and having previously served as Product Manager for Prodways, Rebecchi is working to set up a more concrete marketing strategy for the company, based less on the brand itself and more on the AM products, their characteristics and possible new fields of use.
A joint team of researchers from American universities has developed a 3D printed device that is capable of absorbing excess chemotherapy drugs from a patient’s body. The novel device could make chemotherapy treatments more effective while reducing the negative side effects of the harsh drugs on cancer patients.
Standards organization ASTM International has announced a partnership with three UK-based organizations—the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), Innovate UK and the British Standards Institution (BSI). Through the collaboration, the partners will aim to fast track the establishment of technical standards to drive the additive manufacturing industry.
3D printed insole manufacturer Wiivv has announced an exciting partnership with popular foot care brand Dr. Scholl’s at CES 2019. Through the collaboration, Dr. Scholl’s is breaking into the 3D printed insole market by offering its clients custom insoles powered by Wiivv Fit Technology. Customers simply have to download a smartphone app to order their own customized, Dr. Scholl’s 3D printed insoles.
LimaCorporate, an Italian multinational specialized in orthopaedics, is partnering with the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), one of the top orthopaedic hospitals in the U.S., to establish the first additive manufacturing facility for custom implants in a hospital environment. By founding the AM facility, the partners hope to improve the availability and accessibility of personalized orthopaedic care within the U.S.