- Advanced additive manufacturing technology demonstrators help customers build on FDM’s use in manufacturing today to build bigger, stronger, higher quality parts.
- Boeing and Ford exploring applications enabled by advances in Stratasys technology to help ensure future systems are optimized for large scale manufacturing applications.
- Siemens’ motion controls and PLM software for design and manufacturing integrate with Stratasys advanced additive manufacturing technologies to reimagine how strong, light-weight composite parts could be built.
- New technologies unveiled in Infinite-Build & Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrators
MINNEAPOLIS & REHOVOT, Israel – August 24, 2016 – (BUSINESS WIRE)– Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq:SSYS), the 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions company, today announced it is previewing demonstrations of next generation manufacturing technologies at IMTS 2016 as part of its SHAPING WHAT’S NEXT™ vision for manufacturing. SHAPING WHAT’S NEXT builds on Stratasys’ industrial FDM® 3D printing expertise to respond to the needs of customers’ most challenging applications, addressing manufacturers’ needs to rapidly produce strong parts ranging in size from an automobile armrest to an entire aircraft interior panel. The Stratasys ecosystem of additive and traditional technologies, software workflows, materials development, and professional services align with individual application needs, better meeting quality, cost, and delivery metrics while unlocking the capabilities of additive manufacturing to revolutionize how parts are designed and built.
The Stratasys technology demonstrators are being displayed at the Stratasys IMTS booth, N-60, September 12–17.
Stratasys Infinite-Build 3D Demonstrator Developed for Large Part Production in Custom OEM and On-Demand Aftermarket Applications
The Stratasys Infinite-Build 3D Demonstrator is designed to address the requirements of aerospace, automotive and other industries for large lightweight, thermoplastic parts with repeatable mechanical properties. The Infinite-Build 3D Demonstrator features a revolutionary approach to FDM extrusion that increases throughput and repeatability. The system turns the traditional 3D printer concept on its side to realize an “infinite-build” approach which prints on a vertical plane for practically unlimited part size in the build direction.
Aerospace giant Boeing played an influential role in defining the requirements and specifications for the demonstrator. Boeing is currently using an Infinite-Build 3D Demonstrator to explore the production of low volume, lightweight parts. Ford Motor Company is also exploring innovative automotive manufacturing applications for this demonstrator, and will evaluate this new technology. Ford and Stratasys will work together to test and develop new applications for automotive-grade 3D printed materials that were not previously possible due to limited size, enabling and accelerating innovative automotive product design.
“Additive manufacturing represents a great opportunity for Boeing and our customers, so we made a strategic decision more than a decade ago to work closely with Stratasys on this technology. We are always looking for ways to reduce the cost and weight of aircraft structures, or reduce the time it takes to prototype and test new tools and products so we can provide them to customers in a more affordable and rapid manner. The Stratasys Infinite-Build 3D Demonstrator enables products to be made at a much larger and potentially unlimited length, offering us a breakthrough tool to add to our robust additive manufacturing processes,” said Darryl Davis, President, Boeing Phantom Works.
“3D printing holds the promise of changing automotive design and manufacturing because it opens up new ways to innovate and create efficiencies in production. Our vision at Ford is to make high-speed, high-quality printing of automotive-grade parts a reality. We are excited about the future opportunities that the scalable and versatile Infinite-Build concept can unlock, and look forward to collaborating with Stratasys to help achieve our goals,” said Mike Whitens, director, Vehicle Enterprise Sciences, Ford Research & Advanced Engineering.
Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrator Combines Stratasys Advanced Extrusion Technologies with Siemens’ Motion Control Hardware and PLM Software
Stratasys and Siemens have been working very closely together to further their shared vision of making 3D printing a viable and indispensable component of production manufacturing. As an example of this vision, Stratasys developed the Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrator integrating its core additive manufacturing technologies with industrial motion control hardware and design–to-3D printing software capabilities provided by Siemens. This Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrator is designed to revolutionize the 3D printing of composite parts.
Video courtesy of Stratasys Ltd.
In addition to widespread use in transportation industries like Automotive and Aerospace, industries such as Oil & Gas and Medical use composite materials to make strong yet lightweight structures. Unfortunately, composites production is constrained by labor-intensive processes and geometric limitations. The Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrator delivers true 3D printing by using an 8-axis motion system that enables precise, directional material placement for strength while also reducing dramatically the need for speed-hindering support strategies. This redefines how future lightweight parts will be built, and provides a glimpse into how this technology could be used to accelerate the production of parts made from a wide variety of materials.
“Siemens is pleased to support Stratasys in their innovative additive manufacturing initiatives, of which the Stratasys Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrator is one of the most promising. By working closely with Stratasys on motion control and CNC automation, Siemens is helping to create a flexible, multi-function manufacturing workflow that puts 3D printing firmly in the factory. We look forward to continuing to work with Stratasys to build manufacturing solutions that transform industries,” said Arun Jain, VP, Motion Control, Digital Factory US, Siemens.
“Stratasys is building on our success in manufacturing with applications such as manufacturing aids, injection molds and composite tooling, and leveraging our relationships with innovative industry leaders to further extend the applicability of additive manufacturing in demanding production environments,” said Ilan Levin, CEO, Stratasys. ”We view the level of factory integration, automation, and performance monitoring potentially offered by these new demonstrators as catalysts for the transformation to Industry 4.0. Stratasys invites all visitors to IMTS to see these new technologies, as well as our field-proven industrial additive manufacturing solutions, in action.”
In addition to the Infinite-Build and Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrators being featured in technology demonstrations, at IMTS 2016 Stratasys will be showcasing examples of 3D printing applications used today by Stratasys customers all over the world for tooling and manufacturing processes, including 3D printed Jigs & Fixtures, Composite Tooling, Mold Tooling and Production Parts.
About Stratasys Ltd.
For more than 25 years, Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ:SSYS) has been a defining force and dominant player in 3D printing and additive manufacturing – shaping the way things are made. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Rehovot, Israel, the company empowers customers across a broad range of vertical markets by enabling new paradigms for design and manufacturing. The company’s solutions provide customers with unmatched design freedom and manufacturing flexibility – reducing time-to-market and lowering development costs, while improving designs and communications. Stratasys subsidiaries include MakerBot and Solidscape, and the Stratasys ecosystem includes 3D printers for prototyping and production; a wide range of 3D printing materials; parts on-demand via Stratasys Direct Manufacturing; strategic consulting and professional services; and the Thingiverse and GrabCAD communities with over 2 million 3D printable files for free designs. With more than 2,700 employees and 800 granted or pending additive manufacturing patents, Stratasys has received more than 30 technology and leadership awards. Visit us online at: www.stratasys.com or http://blog.stratasys.com/, and follow us on LinkedIn.
Stratasys, the Stratasys signet, and FDM are registered trademarks of Stratasys Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries or affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The statements in this press release relating to Stratasys’ beliefs regarding the benefits customers will experience from the Infinite-Build and Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrators, Stratasys’ expectation on the timing of availability of the technology covered by the Infinite-Build and Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrators, the rate of adoption of the manufacturing processes contemplated by the Infinite-Build and Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrators within the aerospace, automotive, transportation, oil & gas, medical and other industries, and any other statements relating to Stratasys’ future 3D technology and products, are forward-looking statements reflecting management’s current expectations and beliefs. These forward-looking statements are based on current information that is, by its nature, subject to rapid and even abrupt change. Due to risks and uncertainties associated with Stratasys’ business, actual results could differ materially from those projected or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risk that customers will not perceive the benefits of the Infinite-Build and Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrators to be the same as Stratasys does; the risk that unforeseen technical difficulties will delay the deployment of the technology covered by the Infinite-Build and Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrators; and other risk factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in Stratasys’ most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 21, 2016. Stratasys is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any obligation) to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Contacts
Stratasys Media Contacts
Stratasys
Arita Mattsoff / Joe Hiemenz
Stratasys
Tel. +972-74-745-4000 (IL) Tel. +1-952-906-2726 (US)
arita@stratasys.com
joe.hiemenz@stratasys.com
Germany
Philipp Budde
Rheinfaktor
Tel: +49 221 88046-0
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Korea
Stratasys Korea
Janice Lai
Tel. +852 3944 8888
Media.ap@stratasys.com
Brazil
Clezia Martins Gomes
GPCOM
Tel: +55 (11) 3129-5158
clezia@gpcom.com.br
North America
Craig Librett
Stratasys
+1-518-424-2497
Craig.Librett@stratasys.com
Asia Pacific
Stratasys AP
Janice Lai
Tel. +852 3944 8888
Media.ap@stratasys.com
Greater China
Stratasys Shanghai
Icy Xie
Tel: +86-21-26018886
icy.xie@stratasys.com
Europe
Jonathan Wake / Miguel Afonso
Incus Media
Tel: +44-1737-215200
stratasys@incus-media.co.uk
Japan
Stratasys Japan
Aya Yoshizawa
Tel. +81 90 6473 1812
aya.yoshizawa@stratasys.com
Mexico, Central America, Caribe and South America
Stratasys Mexico
Erica Massini
+55 11 2626 9229
erica.Massini@stratasys.com
Source: Stratasys Ltd.
