Roland DG has announced the creation of a new subsidiary called DGSHAPE in order to manage their 3D printing and other related projects.
The company says they will be transferring the “development and sales of 3D milling machines, 3D printers, engraving machines and photo impact printers” to DGSHAPE.
The Japanese company have been adding to their 3D-centric products recently, with the release of the monofab ARM-10 3D printer. In addition, they are also developing a ceramics 3D printer. During Formnext, Roland DG demonstrated a prototype of the powder bed ceramic 3D printer and were keen to test the markets appetite for such a machine during the Frankfurt trade show.
3D printing ceramics
There a number of different methods to create 3D printed ceramics. In conversations with researchers, a current trend is towards advancing the use of FDM 3D printers: as this process has similarities with well-understood methods. Nonetheless, the prototype Roland AG ceramic 3D printer is certainly an intriguing development that Industry will continue to follow closely.
DGSHAPE
The newly created DGSHAPE will “harness the 3D digital fabrication technologies and expertise that Roland DG has developed over more than three decades”… “in order to provide advanced digital manufacturing/fabrication solutions.”
The new subsidiary will begin operation in April 2017. DGSHAPE will reportedly serve the dental and medical industries, as well as the general business of digital fabrication. We spoke recently to Roland about their future plans and they referred to “exciting times” for the company. It seems the creation of the DGSHAPE subsidiary may have been what they were referring to. Hopefully it also means more news regarding their ceramic 3D printer will surface soon.
Kohei Tanabe, who will become President and CEO of DGSHAPE this year, spoke about the news,
DGSHAPE intends to deliver a greater level of added value that advances a new age of digital fabrication by not only developing innovative hardware and software, but by providing more efficient production workflows, enhanced service and support including consulting, and an open innovation environment that can generate a thriving business through exploiting next-generation technologies such as Cloud, IoT, AI and robotics.
Featured image shows Roland AG ceramic 3D printer. Photo by Michael Petch.
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