Keywords
Citation
(2006), "Stratasys receives $3.6 million order to advance rapid manufacturing capabilities", Assembly Automation, Vol. 26 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2006.03326aab.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Stratasys receives $3.6 million order to advance rapid manufacturing capabilities
Stratasys receives $3.6 million order to advance rapid manufacturing capabilities
Keywords: Rapid prototypes
Stratasys, Inc. has announced that it has received a $3.6 million order from a Fortune 100 global manufacturing company to advance Stratasys' proprietary fused deposition modelling (FDM(R)) technology for rapid manufacturing applications. The effort will be based around Stratasys' high- end FDM productivity systems.
“Manufacturers are beginning to recognize the opportunity for using our technology for short-run production and mass customization of products without the need for special tooling,” says Stratasys CEO Scott Crump. “Our FDM technology is well-positioned for rapid manufacturing, given it generates production-grade plastic parts.”
“A growing number of our customers now use FDM for rapid manufacturing applications. We expect that this agreement will accelerate our expansion into this emerging market and broaden opportunities for rapid manufacturing applications.”
“After evaluating alternative processes, the customer chose FDM for its ability to produce durable plastic parts for end-use,” says VP of engineering Paul Blake. “Competing processes could not produce the product characteristics the customer required. We believe the Stratasys FDM process with its production- grade thermoplastics offers the ideal platform for rapid manufacturing.”
The agreement includes payments to Stratasys over the next four years as R&D milestones are achieved, as well as payments that are dependent upon future deliverables. The Company expects R&D payments received will offset accelerated R&D efforts aimed at rapid manufacturing advances and does not anticipate recognizing these payments as revenue.
Stratasys Inc., Minneapolis, manufactures rapid prototyping systems and 3D printers for use by OEMs such as aerospace, automotive, defense, medical, and consumer product makers. In 2004 the company installed 36 per cent of all such systems sold worldwide, making it the unit market leader again, according to Wohlers Report 2005. Stratasys patented the rapid prototyping process known as FDM(R). The process creates functional models directly from any 3D CAD program using ABS plastic, polycarbonate, PPSF or other materials. The company holds 175 granted or pending prototyping patents. Stratasys systems are also used for rapid production and rapid tooling. On the web: www.DimensionPrinting.com and www.Stratasys.com