Last December saw Groupe Gorgé announce its first range of industrial 3D printers at Euromold 2013 via it’s strategic acquisition of Prodways; and begin to establish itself in the additive manufacturing space with its first sale just three days later. The move was to begin a relatively successful first year in the production of additive manufacturing machines, and relatively rapid expansion into a number of other business channels.
The announcement and sales boosted Groupe Gorgé‘s stock performance and garnered a strong recommendation from 3D printing stocks maestro Gary Anderson. In part Groupe Gorgé’s stock has been notable for performance, which has continued to show stability whilst the stock of many other additive manufacturing manufacturers peaked in late 2013 then dipped after what has been iterated by many analysts as the apex of a bubble further to the hype factor for 3D printing technologies during 2013.
Gorgé Group has established a 3D printing business with a number of channels: Prodways, Deltamed and Prodways Entrepreneurs. The company entered the industrial additive manufacturing materials space with the acquisition of DeltaMed GmbH early in 2014, a manufacturer of photosensitive resins. The Groupe has continued to maintain a steady stream of sales for their Prodways printers, delivering on three orders and achieving four more industrial 3D printer sales in the first half of 2014 including the first sale of a Prodways K20 Producer printer in February. So notable has been its strategy and performance that Gorgé Group was awarded the 2014 Prix De L’audace Créatrice by President of France, François Hollande at the Élysée Palace.
Prodways entered the significant North American market in 2014 with an exhibition of its printers at RAPID 2014 and a sales and distribution partnership with GENISTAR covering the United States, Canada and Mexico with a provision of services including installation, calibration, application and material support, materials distribution and spare part fulfilment.
Now, Groupe Gorgé is to complement its current line-up of material solutions ― developed internally and by its partner Dreve ― with a two-year partnership with the French public research organisation the Commission for Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies (CEA). The aim of the partnership is to improve the properties of materials used for Prodways’ patented MOVINGlight additive manufacturing technology and “optimise processes for design and cleaning of polymer, ceramic and metal parts while protecting the environment.”
Philippe Laude, CEO of Prodways, explained: “By partnering with CEA-Liten Prodways relies on a technology research excellence to develop materials whose mechanical properties are up to date in 3D printing. This partnership is at the heart of our expertise and allows to imagine new applications especially promising for the industrial world.”
The material solutions will mainly be orientated around multi-materials and nano-structuring to improve the properties of the materials derived from ceramic or magnetic metal powders. CEA Liten will offer a complete chain of industrial facilities in Europe to conduct the entire process of achieving these material advancements. This research and development will provide solutions dedicated to industrial and biological applications of additive manufacturing technology.
Florence Lambert, Director of CEA Liten, articulated that: “The expertise of Prodways offers the best technology at the best time market. Giving it access to our expertise on materials and processes, Liten fulfils its role in accelerating innovation in the service industry and help position Prodways in a leading position in various market segments of the 3D printing growing.”
As explained in the Groupe Gorgé First Half 2014 results video below, the 3D printing division is currently loss making, but seen as being a strong investment for the future.
Raphael Gorgé, CEO of Gorgé Group, presents their First Half 2014 Financial Results:
A steady but strong start in this strategy then for Gorgé Group, and as sales and services revenue channels continue to expand alongside industrial, retail and research partnerships, the near future is looking bright for this European additive manufacturing newcomer.
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