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Two High-Powered Executives Bring Z Corp. Employee Count to 161
Technology sales veteran Ed DeArias, most recently of Nokia, has joined Z Corporation as Vice President of Global Sales, responsible for driving all sales programs and revenue for the company, and Olimpio DeMarco, most recently of Autodesk Inc., joined as Director of Business Development, responsible for expanding business in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) and education markets.
The company has hired 22 employees since January, bringing employee count to 161. "We warmly welcome Ed, Olimpio and our other new professionals to what we believe is the right company in the right industry at the right time," said John M. Kawola, Chief Executive Officer. "Our 3D printing technology is becoming a standard best practice in product development organizations and is heating up in architecture, GIS, entertainment, arts and medicine. A key success factor for us is having the right people, and these new colleagues are shining examples who will help us drive more expansion going forward."
DeArias reports to Kawola. DeMarco reports to Vice President of Business Development Scott Harmon.
TCT RAPID Manufacturing Conference Set For October 2008 in Coventry, UK
The full program can be found online at the event website www.tctshow.com.
TCT said that Terry Wohlers is slated to present the conference keynote address entitled “An Outlook to Endless Possibilities”, on the first morning of the conference, which will be held October 21 and October 22 at the Ricoh Arena.
Both days of the show will conclude with a panel review session giving delegates the opportunity to openly discuss pertinent issues that they would like addressed, TCT said.
Stratasys is First Addititive Fabriciation Equipment Maker to Sell 10,000 Machines
The Eden Prairie, MN-based Stratasys, founded in 1989 and trading as SSYS, said that PSA Peugeot Citroen of Brazil purchased a high-precision FDM 400mc, making Stratasys the only one of 34 global additive fabrication equipment makers to reach 10,000 installations.To mark the achievement, Scott Crump, Stratasys CEO and co-founder, rang the ceremonial closing bell at NASDAQ. (See photo.)
Its latest purchase brings the number of Stratasys additive fabrication machines now owned by PSA Peugeot Citroen to 14, including six Dimension 3D printers and eight high-precision FDM systems, Stratasys said in a news release.
The company's news release quoted industry consultant Terry Wohlers, president of Wohlers Associates Inc., saying: "No other company in the business has come close to selling similar volumes in recent years." Stratasys did not indicate whether Wohlers is a paid company consultant.
On the day, Stratasys shares fell 2.62% to close at $21.20 a share.
L-VMA Gets Results: Initial Articles Based Upon L-VMA's Story About Boris Fritz and Utility Fog
Amazing But True: Hold Your Breath for 4 Hours
It seems like science fiction but it's not. Boris Fritz, a ...6 min -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=--J99VtI034
Amazing But True: Expert Forecasts You Will Hold Your Breath for 4 ...
This is not science fiction, according to Boris Fritz, an aerospace engineer, ... A video interview with Fritz is available now on the Low-Volume ...astrotips.com/index.php?module=MyHeadlines&
Future Blogger - May 31
At the recent Low-Volume Manufacturers Association conference, Boris Fritz, a senior engineer technical specialist at Northrop Grumman, said he expects ...www.memebox.com/futureblogger/show/565 - 31k
manufacturing Videos at MarkaCadey. manufacturing Free Videos
Boris Fritz, a senior engineer technical specialist at Northrop Grumman, tells the . ... Tags: RPM L-VMA low-volume manufacturing additive Redeye rapid ...markacadey.net/youtube/tag/manufacturing - 83k
Zero Influence Wiki: Manufacturing
Boris Fritz, a senior engineer technical specialist at Northrop Grumman, tells the Low-Volume Manufacturers Association that in our lifetime, we will likely ...zeroinfluence.wikidot.com/nmc-research:manufacturing - 80k -
L-VMA Investigates: Are Todd A. Grimm and SME Too Cushy for the Organization's Good?
EXCERPT: Who decided that Todd Grimm, who is scheduled to become the 2009 Chair of SME's RTAM Community Steering Committee, should be a keynote speaker for this year's conference and exhibition? Doesn't this group already know Todd and what he has to say?
How about some fresh blood and fresh ideas?
Moreover, I'd like to know who else who spoke at this year's RAPID conference is a client of Todd's? Does SME load its panels with friends and clients of its steering committee members? Both SME and Todd are mum on this issue.
Even as I was preparing this post the mailman came and delivered to my house a flyer for SME's bookstore. The book that is most visible on the cover is Todd Grimm's User's Guide to Rapid Prototyping (black cover, center).
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| Flyer for Todd's 'Rapid' Book |
I will be asking the IRS these and other questions about SME in the coming days and weeks. So far, the written questions I've asked to Todd and most of the written and verbal questions I've asked to SME have been ignored.
As a veteran journalist, that comes as no surprise.
SME and Todd Grimm won't begin answering any uncomfortable questions until other SME members begin posing them or until an independent auditor - such as the IRS, comes knocking at their door and says, 'Gee, L-VMA has a point, what steps do you take to prevent SME from functioning as the tax-advantaged marketing arm of T.A. Grimm & Associates, Inc.?"
Be patient. We will get to the bottom of all this together.
TO READ THE FULL TEXT OF THIS POST, CLICK ON 'MORE' NOW!
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What's Wrong With This News Release from SME? Just About Everything!
[This headline sucks! I hate to be that blunt, but it's true. Who, especially among journalists, has any idea in the world who Dr. Jayanthi Parthasarathy is? Moreover, who other than SME and Dick Aubin's family have any idea what is a 'Dick Aubin Distinguished Paper Award'? It is like a Pulitzer Prize or a Nobel Prize?
Try this headline I crafted instead:
Professor Honored For Her Study Of Innovative Ways To Help Rebuild Shattered Skulls
Oh my! My version doesn't name the professor, the award, the group that is honoring her, or even the industry that is sponsoring the award.
Exactly.
Read SME's headline again and read mine. Then pretend you are a normal human being, not an SME insider. Which headline makes you want to read on?]
5,000-Year-Old Iraqi Artifacts Are Object of Major 3D Scanning and Rapid Prototyping Project
How to Write an Effective RAPID Industry News Release
The additive fabrication industry has a great story to tell the world and yet is one of the worst storytellers imaginable. News release after news release issued by members of this industry read as if they were written by engineers -- which they probably were.But while engineers can design systems and parts that wow the imagination -- i.e. 'build a better mousetrap' -- the world will not beat a path to our doors unless we do a better job of telling our story.
Writing news releases is an art -- not a science. So my guidelines herein are intended as just that -- guides. In general, the most important insights that RAPID owners and executives can take away from this lesson are these.
- Write a Grabbing Headline for Your News Release, Even if that Means Leaving Your Company's Name/Product Out of the Headline.
- In the first paragraph or two, get immediately to the 'so what' of your announcement -- leaving the details (who, what, when, where) for further down. If readers don't know the import of your announcement upfront, they likely won't bother reading deep into your news release to discover it.
- Write as if you are telling a story to your neighbor or a member of your church. Your audience needs to be enticed.
Amazing But True: Expert Forecasts You Will Hold Your Breath for 4 Hours
[Headline is intended to get journalists and others to read further. Take note that I don't mention any name or company in the headline, so as not to bog it down. If you see this headline, it is hard not to read on -- don't you think?]
Orlando, Fl. (May 30, 2008) -- An expert in nanomanufacturing says that researchers are developing molecular-sized machines that in our lifetimes will allow humans to live without a fresh intake of oxygen for as much as four hours.
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Voxals, Utility Fog and Other RAPID Wonders: A Conversation with Boris Fritz of Northrup Grumman
L-VMA Interviews Jodie Davis of Redeye RPM at RAPID 2008
Materialise Sets Competition for Innovate Use of its RP-RM Software
In a news release, the Leuven, Belgium-based company announced the inaugural edition of the Materialise Pyramid Awards and invited companies to submit a case describing their RP-RM innovation.
"By means of these Awards we hope to stimulate an open minded use of our software and to further increase innovation in additive manufacturing," explains Wim Michiels, vice president of Materialise Software. Winners will be evaluated by a jury and announced in September 2008 at the company's Innovation Forum.
Materialise said the top prize in each of its two categories will be 2,000 Euro. Full details can be found on its website, www.materialise.com.
3M Veteran Elected to the Board of 3D Systems
Ms. Welke held executive positions for more than 25 years at 3M Corporation where she last served as Group Vice President of its Medical Markets Group. During her tenure at 3M, she also had significant international experience, having served as Managing Director of 3M France for four years and previously as the European Healthcare Group Product Director headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. She is retired and currently serves as a director of Millipore Corporation (NYSE: MIL).
“We are very pleased to have a person of Karen’s caliber join our Board of Directors,” said Walter Loewenbaum, 3D Systems’ Chairman. “Karen brings a unique blend of business experience that we expect to enhance the range of skills and expertise within our Board of Directors.”
“The addition of Karen Welke to our Board underscores our commitment and drive to improving all aspects of our business,” said Abe Reichental, 3D Systems’ President and CEO. “The medical systems’ sector is of great interest to our company and its future growth plans, particularly in the areas of 3-D Printing and Direct Digital Manufacturing. We expect that Karen’s extensive industry experience, coupled with her comprehensive strategic, operating and international background, will make her a valuable addition to our Board.”
RedEye RPM and Alibre Form Partnership to Offer Instant Rapid Prototyping Quotes
As part of the partnership, RedEye created a software add-on for Alibre Design that generates instant quotes for parts and assemblies directly inside the Alibre Design interface. In addition, designers securely can transmit the design to RedEye to build after receiving a quote. The quotes are based on services offered by RedEye RPM, which houses nearly 100 additive fabrication systems in its facilities worldwide, most of which are fused deposition modeling® systems manufactured by Stratasys.
“Designers now have direct access to prototypes and custom manufactured parts that can be made and shipped to them in a matter of days,” says Tim Thellin, RedEye RPM product manager. “This add-on offers a simple, direct connection for designers to get quotes instantly without having to upload files to our Web site.”
Questions and Some Initial Answers About Todd A. Grimm and His SME Role
As an SME member and a reporter working on a story, I'd like to inquire as to whether Mr. Grimm was paid or in any way compensated/reimbursed for his presentation? If so, I would like to know specifics.
More broadly, I'm interested in how SME and RTAM address issues of possible conflicts of interest when leaders of the organization are involved in decisions such as who is invited to speak and who isn't. I want to know how fairness is applied such that two groups don't arise -- "insiders" and everyone else.
I'm happy to discuss this with you further by phone if you prefer. I will be back in my Los Angeles office on Tuesday, May 27th. My deadline is COB next Thursday, May 29th.
Thank you in advance,
DEAN
This morning I phoned SME in Detroit to follow up on my email. I spoke with Lori Dick, senior PR representative, who did provide me some initial answers.
Ms. Dick says that Todd was not paid for his keynote address and that none of his expenses were reimbursed by SME. In addition, she says that the selection of speakers is controlled by a 20-member advisory board and that each of the members votes on possible speakers.
I've asked her for the names of those 20 members and if there is a chair of the group. I'll let you know when I hear back from her.
Ms. Dick told me that Todd would have recused himself from any discussion of including him as a keynote speaker, assuming he is one of the 20 advisory members.
For now, I have no reason not to take Ms. Dick at her word, although I have asked her to provide me additional information to help verify her responses. I have also sent a list of related email questions to Todd.
Meanwhile, Ms. Dick asked me to verify who I say I am, including the fact that I used to report for The Wall Street Journal and was nominated by the paper for a Pulitzer Prize. Ms. Dick says the only proof she has been able to find so far to corroborate my biographical claims comes from my own postings.
I suggested that SME call The Wall Street Journal directly and ask about me. I even gave her the phone number!
There is no doubt that SME is suspicious of me and my intentions. I've got nothing to hide. Hopefully, SME can say the same thing.
More Photos from the RAPID 2008 Exhibition
Harry Abramson, head of business development at Direct Dimensions (far left) and Michael Raphael, president and chief engineer (far right), with members of their Owings Mills, MD-based team. Direct Dimensions excels at finding solutions to the most challenging RAPID and 3D Scanning and Production problems.
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| Kevin Ayers (l) of the FBI and Peter Klink of EOS GmbH | Boris Fritz of Northrop Grumman |
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| Scott Schermer of SC Johnson & Sons | Jeff DeGrange of The Boeing Co. |
================================
Photo: Graham Tromans of Loughborough University (l)
and Scott Schermer of SC Johnson & Sons (c). Advisor at
right is unidentified -- let us know her name and affilation!
======================================Photo: Dr. Jayanthi Parthasarathy, B.D.S., M.S. of the University of Oklahoma School of Industrial Engineering accepting the Dick Aubin Distinguished Paper Award for 2008
'We Are Here' - The Bottom Line of Rapid 2008
By 2012, Wohlers predicts, revenues for the industry will surpass $2.3 billion. This may be, by his own admission, a conservative estimate.
Those who work in the additive fabrication sector - including system manufacturers and service providers, can be proud of their achievements and the percentage increases they've generated in recent years.
But - and this is a BIG BUT - any objective evaluation of the AF-RAPID industry would have to admit that other industries that were created long, long after ours - such as the online advertising industry - already dwarf the additive fabrication world in only a few short years of existence.Every SME member attending Wohlers speech received an eight-page executive summary of his definitive industry analysis - Wohlers Report 2008. The full 240-page softbound publication sells for $475 and offers a broad and deep view of the entire industry. (To order, visit: www.wohlerassociates.com)
By most measures, additive fabrication has developed and evolved impressively," Wohlers writes in the executive summary. Witness the fact that during the four-year period, 2004-2007, Wohlers says that sales of additive fabrication products and services surged by 116%.
But that surge amounted to a four-year total increase of $612 million in absolute dollars, about the amount Google, Inc. spends annually on fuel for its fleet of jets.
Okay, so that's an exaggeration. Google probably doesn't spend that much on fuel. But the point is that our industry hasn't set its sights high enough and we are too easily satisfied with the kind of growth that Wohlers is tracking.
Given the potential for additive fabrication to revolutionize manufacturing globally, how is it that we are still starring starry-eyed at that day -- a few years hence, when we'll cross the $2.3 billion in annual revenues threshold?
The problem is that most of the world has no clue how additive fabrication technologies can be deployed to help their businesses succeed. Entrepreneurs have not yet recognized that AF opens the door to a wide array of new investment opportunities. And members of our industry have been so focused on developing our technologies, that they've lost site of the need to effectively market them.
Our industry needs to undertake an informational and marketing effort to shout at the world - "We Are Here."
My impression of this year's RAPID conference, presented by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, is that it is a fantastic event for those individuals who are already members of the "choir." But the event preaches to itself.
My goal, and it should be one shared by everyone in the Additive Fabrication industry, is to reach out to the uninitiated and show them what a powerful industry ours can and will be.
"We Are Here." Remember that!
Photo: Terry Wohlers by Dean Rotbart
Gideon Levy Honored for His Contribution to Additive Manufacturing Industry
Dr. Levy led a team in the development of new, groundbreaking selective laser sintering materials, the SME said. "In doing so, he addressed key barriers, which resulted in the greater utilization of the technology. Users within the industry are constantly demanding more and more quality materials. Levy's team answered that call by making advances that delivered a combination of processing characteristics and quality," the group noted in bestowing the honor on Dr. Levy.Established in 2008, the RTAM Industry Achievement Award was developed to recognize an individual, team or company for outstanding accomplishments that have had significant impact within the additive manufacturing industry or in any industry through the application of additive manufacturing technologies. Winners are selected with consideration for the scope and scale of benefits realized and the potential future impact their work will have on the industry, SME said in a news release.
According to SME, Dr. Levy holds 20 patents and has published 150 scientific and technical articles, was the 2007 recipient of the prestigious VR@P award in the field of virtual rapid prototyping and was named one of Time-Compression Technologies' (UK) 25 Most Influential People in Rapid Manufacturing.
RAPID 3D Scanning Report: My Head on a White Platter
This is my head on a white platter. It has been digitally scanned thanks to the great team at Santa Monica-based NextEngine. During RAPID 2008, Brad Bryker, NextEngine's VP of Business Development and his friendly colleagues were scanning all sorts of 3 Dimensional items -- most inanimate but including some body parts -- to illustrate the sophistication and simplicity of this great new technology.
Todd A. Grimm's Unexpected 'Welcome' to RAPID 2008: You Better Watch Out!
Orlando (May 22, 2008): In his official pictures Todd A. Grimm of T.A. Grimm & Associates looks so friendly. He has a warm smile and an earnest disposition. So I was taken by surprise this morning when I went up to Todd to introduce myself face-to-face and discovered a less smiley facade.Grim, indeed, was Todd's assessment of me and the Low-Volume Manufacturers Association, which I founded and work for as a volunteer. Todd told me flat out -- just an instant or two before he turned his back on me and walked away -- that he views me as "the competition" and doesn't like my style of business.
Fair enough. Todd is entitled to pick and choose who he associates with and if he doesn't want to speak with me it is his option.
The one nit I have to pick, however, is with the fact that Todd also is a senior representative of the SME's RAPID conference and Vice Chairman of its RTAM community. Indeed, next year, Todd will become chairman of the RTAM community steering committee.
Will he choose not to speak to anyone he competes with or anyone who competes with those he consults with during his tenure? I wasn't approaching Todd because I wanted his rapid prototyping consulting and marketing services. I approached him because I wanted to greet him as a highly regarded leader of SME's RTAM. (Indeed, Todd was honored as one of this year's keynote speakers.)
Todd can tell you directly what his problem is with me and L-VMA. You may agree with his views or may not. But as best as I can ascertain, he is most concerned that I may one day find a way to make money from my work with the L-VMA. Not that he, as a respected RTAM leader, makes any money from the high visibility his volunteer work for the group brings him!
In all trade associations I've been affiliated with in the past, the fact that one member competes with another is not grounds for an official snub. I do wonder how Todd can justify this unusual position and who else he has blown off in his role as a RTAM leader because he doesn't approve of their style of doing business?
What do you think is the likelihood that RTAM will give me a speaking opportunity at a future RAPID conference so long as my "competitor" is in charge of the community and won't even stand still to speak with me?
Officially, I am a paid member of SME and don't think it right to be excluded because I may -- at least in Todd's view -- compete with him. Tough.
Douglas B. Mitchell, who currently chairs RTAM and works for Ford, seems to have no problem working alongside Thomas A. Sorovetz of Chrysler in a civil fashion. Why would Todd treat me any differently?
Todd, who provided me a telephone interview for L-VMA some months back, told me he went so far as to call SME members he knows and speak poorly of me and L-VMA, suggesting that somehow I am up to no good. I pointed out that I did free PR for him and promoted his interview without charge -- an offer I extend to any company or individual in the RAPID industry. (Does T.A. Grimm & Associates make a similar free offer for its marketing services?)
Todd would have none of this. Even as I asked him to recall how much I invoiced him for my work on his behalf -- a big fat zero -- he just skulked away.
More about Todd and his consultancy in the coming days.
Photo: Todd A. Grimm by Dean Rotbart
Pictures at a RAPID Exhibition
RAPID 2008 is being held May 20-22 at the Coronado Springs Resort in the Disney World complex here. EOS GmbH of Germany is the conference's presenting sponsor and enjoys a showcase exhibition booth. Other large sponsors include www.approto.com, Huntsman, Raymor, Stratasys, DSM Somos and Object. Media partners for the event include Manufacturing Engineering, The TCT Magazine and Desktop Engineering.
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Left: Jodie Davis, Senior Marketing Specialist -- Redeye RPM
Right: Carl K. Deckker, President, Met-L-Flo, Inc. and a Conference Advisor
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Left: The EOS exhibit at RAPID 2008. At center, in the red striped tie, is Peter Klink, executive vice president of global sales and support.
Right: A wider view of the EOS booth.
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The 3D Systems booth and (R) uniform parts made on the company's Viper Pro -- show in the background on the left.
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Left: Brad Bryker of NextEngine (black shirt) offers a demonstration of three-dimensional scanning.
Right: The DSM Somos booth.
SME's RAPID 2008 Kicks Off With Look Toward the Future
Already, the event feels more like a science fiction confab than a gathering of engineers. What does the future hold? Among other developments: nano-size blood droplets that can let a person survive for as much as four hours without fresh oxygen intake; programmable matter that can be a "chair" in the morning and be reprogrammed to be a "blanket" at night; electrical conductive material as strong as diamonds; and replacement bones and body tissue to order.
And it's only lunch break!
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| Keynote speaker: Halley | Attendees at the RTAM Plenary session | ||
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| Chair: Douglas B. Mitchell | Dr. Stephen Schmitt on dental uses |
Brigadier General Nick Halley gave the keynote address challenging industry members to show leadership in their stewardship of the emerging technologies. General Halley, author of Leadership Under Fire!, stressed that leaders must 1. Control their egos. 2. Learn to be better listeners. 3. Lead by example.
The General, who served two tours of duty in Vietnam, told the audience of the courageous leadership he witnessed of a North Vietnamese commander who continued to fight to the death even after the commander has lost a leg.
Douglas B. Mitchell, 2008 Chair of the event, joined with Todd A. Grimm of T.A. Grimm & Associates in honoring several individuals for their outstanding contributions to the industry.
Stratasys Expands Lead in the Additive Fabrication Industry for 2007, According to Industry Report
According to the report, Stratasys shipped 44 percent of all systems worldwide in 2007 compared to 42 percent in 2006, and it maintains the highest global installed base of additive systems. The report also indicated that within the 3D printer segment of the AF industry, Stratasys shipped 53 percent of all 3D printers in 2007 compared to 52 percent in 2006.
“Once again, we strengthened our leadership position within the industry,” says Stratasys CEO Scott Crump. “This reflects the ongoing success of our 3D printer strategy, which is focused on providing an affordable and reliable system to designers and engineers worldwide. We continue to believe the global market potential for 3D printers could exceed 500,000 systems.
The report indicated that direct digital manufacturing (DDM) -- the manufacture of end-use parts -- was one of the fastest growing industry applications in 2007, representing 14.9% of applications last year versus 11.7% the year before.
“In addition, new opportunities have emerged for applications within direct digital manufacturing. These applications are providing incremental sales opportunities for our high-end system business. We are increasingly optimistic about the potential of this emerging market.
“We are pleased that our company has grown its leadership position within the AF industry during 2007. Our success is a result of the dedication and hard work of our employees and strategic partners. We look forward to continued success in 2008,” Crump concluded.
'Cheers' Star is an Advocate for 'Made in America' Manufacturing
John Ratzenberger Tells It Like It is in Manufacturing Today on Podcast - Predicts an Industrial Tsunami
Star of Cheers, Made in America, Dancing with the Stars, Pixar among other Hollywood shows talks on the Better Process Podcast about his favorite topic - Manufacturing in the USA.
Denver, CO (PRWEB) March 17, 2008 -- John Ratzenberger discusses the past, present, and future of manufacturing in America. John has vast experience visiting many many factory floors with Travel Channel and John Ratzenberger's Made in America.
John stated optimistically that the future of manufacturing in this country is in our youth. Organizations such as the FMA Foundation (http://www.fma-foundation.org) and the Nuts Bolts and Thingamajigs Foundation (http://www.nutsandboltsfoundation.org) strive to bring kids into manufacturing by bringing the fun of manufacturing to them. "It is a national hunger right now for our youth to get hands on and actually create something," said John. These organizations organize and fund camps that allow kids to create something they can build and actually feel good about making rather than just showing up and breathing.
Ratzenberger also introduces Florida teenage race car driver and welder Brennan Palmiter as the new face of youth manufacturing for the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association (FMA). The FMA and its publication Practical Welding Today will sponsor Palmiter for the 2008 racing season as well.
Hosted by Ken Rayment, the Better Process Podcast is a daily podcast focusing on manufacturing and industry. "American manufacturing is the engine of our economy," says Rayment. "As an engineer working in industry, I got tired of hearing only bad news about American manufacturing. I launched the Better Process Podcast to share the success stories and be the voice of the small and mid-sized manufacturing firm. John's discussion about what is needed for manufacturing today is the kick in the pants that our country needs to hear. This is exactly the kind of story I want to tell on my program."
The free podcast can be heard at:
http://www.podcasternews.com/bpp/4985/industry-report-john-ratzenberger-fma-foundation/
Preview: See For Yourself L-VMA's Dean Rotbart's Course
Dean Rotbart, who will be offering free media relations training during RAPID 2008 in May in Orlando, is a nationally recognized tier one communications consultant.
Nanotechnology Alters the Course of Rapid Prototyping -- DSM Somos
A recent article posted at www.engineerlive.com by Paul Stevens explores the impact nanotechnology is having on the additive fabrication industry. In the adaptation below, L-VMA's Peter Nevland endeavors to make Stevens' highly technical article accessible to those among us without engineering degrees:
After barging its tiny little dimensions into everyday consumer products, nanotechnology has already begun to invade another arena: the world of rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing. From tooling and modeling to improving the performance of standard materials, product development teams are overjoyed at their nano-options.
Traditionally, the world of tooling has suffered from either long turnaround times or poorly finished parts suitable only for testing or marketing studies. But thanks to Nanotool, a resin heavily filled with non-crystalline nanoparticles, DSM Somos says they have a solution to both problems.
Nanotool’s high hardness and heat resistance (260°C) combined with low volume change due to temperature make it an ideal candidate for the purpose of injection molds. In some cases, these tooling inserts have proved capable of withstanding the heating cycles necessary to form thousands of parts made from thermoplastics.
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Tier-One PR Expert, Dean Rotbart, To Provide Free Training and Consulting at Florida Conference
Dean Rotbart, founder and director of the Low-Volume Manufacturers Association, will be offering free media relations training and one-to-one consultations from May 20 to May 22.
The L-VMA's events coincide with the annual conference on additive fabrication technologies organized by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, which this year will be held in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. More than 100 of the additive fabrication industry's top companies and services providers are expected to participate in the conference.
Rotbart, a former Pulitzer Prize-nominated reporter and columnist for The Wall Street Journal, has personally coached more than 5,000 senior-level executives and business owners on how to effectively raise their media profiles and improve their effectiveness in garnering free, positive publicity. The Low-Volume Manufacturing Association, founded in 2007, offers free membership to all bona fide additive fabrication companies and works to showcase the benefits of rapid-prototyping, rapid-manufacturing and other emerging additive fabrication technologies.
Rotbart will be scheduling workshops and one-on-one consultations with those who are in Florida to attend the SME event. L-VMA's activities, while coinciding with the conference, are not sanctioned by SME. "If you attend the conference with an eye toward best practices and how to boost your business, then don't overlook letting the world know you are out here," Rotbart says.
To book a one-to-one consultation with L-VMA or to attend one of its after-hours or pre-hours group workshops, contact Rotbart at 1-866-541-RPRM (7776) or email him at director@l-vma.org.
L-VMA notes that its training is 100% free and without any obligation whatsoever. Those who participate will not be solicited or induced to do anything other than improve their public image and enrich their own businesses.
L-VMA's Dean Rotbart is Featured Interview Guest on Better Process Podcast
Rotbart was interviewed in February 2008. To hear the interview, which lasts under ten minutes.
Now Post Your 'RAPID' Job Openings for FREE at L-VMA
‘RAPID’ Expert Carl Dekker to Address February 27th RedEye RPM Webcast
RedEye RPM will feature ‘RAPID’ industry expert Carl Dekker in a free, one-hour webcast slated for Wednesday, February 27, at 2 p.m. (EST)/ 11 a.m. (PST).
Dekker, a past chairperson of the SME’s Rapid Technologies and Additive Manufacturing Community (RTAM), will explore successful applications for direct digital manufacturing, including: non-critical, simple geometries; non-critical, complex geometries; structural, non-critical parts; and high complexity, critical parts.
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| Met-L-Flo's Carl Dekker |
The one-hour webcast is produced by RedEye RPM, the world’s largest rapid prototyping and parts building service, and will include a Q&A period at the end of Dekker’s remarks.
Dekker is currently president of Met-L-Flo, Inc., a growing additive manufacturing service center based in Sugar Grove, IL. He teaches the Rapid Technologies and Additive Manufacturing Technologies Certificate Programs and is a steering committee member and chair of RTAM’s Direct Digital Manufacturing Tech Group.
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Medical Modeling: McCoy's 'Sickbay' Seems Almost Quaint By Comparison
Golden, CO - The scene is one borrowed directly from science fiction.
In a storefront setting, attended not by physicians but by well-trained, casually dressed craftspeople, "bionic" body parts are being sculpted and readied for study and implantation.
On one computer screen, a patient is having a new hip joint engineered to order. On a second screen, a customized titanium plate is being perfectly paired to match the missing tip of an injured patient's skull.
A periodontist, himself spared an early retirement following a serious accident thanks to model-based, precisely planned wrist surgery, checks in as three-dimensional translucent models of his patients' teeth and jaws are computer designed to make the implantation of new teeth implants a safer, faster, more accurate procedure.
More than four years after Medical Modeling helped surgeons successfully separate Egyptian twins who were cojoined at the head (top) Andy Christensen, president (bottom), reports the boys continue to make progress.
Nearby, a blue laser beam dances over a pool of liquefied photopolymer resin darting from one computer-guided target to another. Slowly, but steadily, out of the glop will emerge the anatomically exact model of a patient's heart and vascular structure - allowing the patient's surgeon to accurately plan his approach to the surgery on the model - even while the patient lies - chest open - on the operating table.
This isn't science fiction. It is just another typical day at Medical Modeling, the rapidly expanding tactile imaging company that is using rapid additive fabrication and electron beam melting technologies to engineer customized body replacement parts and provide physicians and dentists highly accurate bone models produced from their patients' CT scan data.
L-VMA's director, Dean Rotbart, recently toured the Medical Modeling facilities situated along the eastern foothills of Colorado's Rocky Mountains. Rotbart met with Andy Christensen, president, and Nicolas Flannery, Manufacturing Operations Manager.
Rotbart reports that Medical Modeling, named a finalist in L-VMA's 2007 Rapid Innovator of the Year awards, has outgrown its original facility and is now split between two nearby office-laboratories.
"Andy Christensen clearly understands the vast opportunity that awaits his company and others involved in the 'rapid' healthcare industry," Rotbart says. "Andy has pulled together a team of talented and visionary individuals and outfitted them with state-of-the art technologies to produce true, daily medical miracles."
Medical customization allows surgeons to more accurately place replacement joints and bone parts while reducing the amount of cutting and sawing and thereby speeding the procedures and their recovery.
Medical Modeling first came to national prominence for its role in helping surgeons approach surgery with anatomically perfect models and some skull parts used to successfully separate Egyptian twin toddlers who were conjoined at the head. Since that time Christensen reports the Medical Modeling team has been involved in providing tactile planning models to surgical teams working to separate more than 20 different sets of conjoined twins - a huge number by any standard.
Impressive as Medical Modeling's work is with cojoined twins, that is really a tiny part of the daily wonderments manufactured by Medical Modeling.
"The smiling bus driver who greets you each morning may very well be the beneficiary of a mouthful of Medical Modeling-aided tooth implants, just as the Iraqi war veteran who is indistinguishable from all the other 27-year-olds on his basketball team can thank his Medical Modeling titanium skull implant for his outward normalcy," Rotbart says. "All around us, people are living longer, more productive, higher quality lives thanks to the work that Medical Modeling quietly pursues each day," he adds.
To learn more about Medical Modeling and what it offers surgeons and health care providers, visit the company's website at www.medicalmodeling.com or contact Christensen at andy@medicalmodeling.com.
Low-Volume Manufacturers Association Names Tangible Express 'Rapid' Innovator of the Year
Tangible Express was selected as the recipient of the first annual 'Rapid' Innovator of the Year on the strength of its multi-million dollar embrace of state-of-the-art additive fabrication equipment and its unique decision to make ownership shares of that equipment available to its global client base.
There were many great companies in the running for this year's 'Rapid' Innovator award, including Desktop Factory, which began accepting online orders for its breakthrough 125ci 3D Printer, priced at under $5,000. Other finalists on the Low-Volume Manufacturers Association ballot included Materialise Group, the Belgium-based provider of innovative software solutions; Medical Modeling LLC, which from its base in Golden, Colorado is at the forefront of using 'rapid' technologies to revolutionize the medical and health fields; and Stratasys Inc., the Eden Prairie, MN maker of systems and parts.<< MORE >>
Frost & Sullivan Honors Object Geometries with Annual Excellence Award
Object Geometries, Ltd., which is a pioneer in photopolymer jetting, was recognized by Frost & Sullivan with its Growth Excellence of the Year Award, the company said.
"Object Geometries is continuously striving to innovate and enhance its product line but more importantly, it is constantly adapting to changes in end-user industries it caters to and introduces new products at the right time, in-tune with the market dynamics," says S. Vidyasankar, a senior research analyst with Frost & Sullivan.
Frost & Sullivan cited the growing acceptance of the company's Polyjet technology, which allows additive fabricators to produce fully cured models ready for immediate use, without post-curing.
Since launching its Polyjet technology in early 2000, Object Geometries has enjoyed rapid success. It has delivered double-digit growth for each of the past three years, the company says. The company holds more than 50 patents and patent pending inventions.
Frost & Sullivan each year names one company that it feels has demonstrated excellence in implementing and sustaining growth through unique growth strategies.
Exclusive Interview with Bert Kenyon, VP Sales of Tangible Express
Q&A with Roger Spielman on EuroMold and the State of Rapid-Fabrication
Roger Spielman is something of a folk hero in the rapid-fabrication industry. Spielman spent more than 20 years at the Rocketdyne Division of The Boeing Co., where he came to oversee its rapid prototype operations. Among his many noteworthy accomplishment, Spielman and his team used SLS to create hundreds of parts for the International Space Station Program and the Space Shuttle Main Engine Program.
If you prefer to listen to the unedited interview, turn up the volume and click below:
Interesting Blog 'Thread' on Hobbycrafting Site
I'm not sure how it is that I landed on a Hobbycrafting blog recently, but I certainly am glad that I did. The folks discussing their avocation among one another are pretty darn savvy about issues and trends that are impacting most of us in the low-volume manufacturing industry.
I'll highlight some of the discussion here. But if time permits, you may also want to cruise through the site (which seems to be UK-based).
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• A revival in home hobbycrafting is underway, as rapid prototyping, open source software and the onmipresent Internet raise interest that was previously dampened by the availability of so many inexpensive mass manufactured items.
• "With the rise in popularlty of home-made CNC machines (subtractive) and 3D printers (additive) there is a huge range of stuff than can now be mae at home that used to be the sole domain of companies with machines costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Combine that with cheap and easily available processing power, and we're starting to see some really innovative cottage industries emerging."
• "We have become accustomed to 'the world has shrunk' and 'distance is no object' when in fact that ain't the case." (Think $200 a barrel oil!)
..."Widgets and Gizmos are only cheap because someone further up the supply chain is importing them by the container load, tens of thousands of units at a time..."
Rapid Prototyping A Key Element in Volvo's XC70 Surf Rescue Concept Vehicle
Volvo selected the Aria Group in Irvine, California, to build the concept. Starting with a production XC70, the Aria team completely stripped the vehicle of its paint, trim, bumpers and interior. Custom-designed parts were crafted for the concept without the traditional method of building clay models. Being able to go directly from digital designs to a process called rapid prototyping greatly reduces development time.
<< MORE >>Wohlers Talk: Design and Manufacturing in the Future
By Terry Wohlers
In the future, expect to see a staggering range of new and distinctive products. Many will come from people working at home, as well as from design-savvy students. With advances in additive processes, expect the development of custom jewelry, collectables such as action and sports figures and bobble heads, and personalized awards, gifts, and corporate give-aways. In the world of professional design, anticipate custom designs for business jet interiors, high-end automobiles, and motorcycles.
<< MORE >>
Another Reason to Consider Fractional Ownership of Rapid-Manufacturing Assets
"Why wait for a tool to be made before beginning assembly of large machines, such as a concept car or airplane?" Tangible Express President C. Alex Linde asks. "Our machines can produce surrogate parts in just a few days so that assembly can move forward long before the real part is finished."
The ultimately benefit, Linde adds, is speed. "Companies can use SLS parts in the initial production runs for final assembly, which dramatically reduces the time to market," he notes. "Saving time is an enormous competitive advantage."
<< MORE >>
Hear Andy Christensen of Medical Modeling Discuss RP-RM's Role in Health Care
In an exclusive interview now posted on the US Reliant web site, Andy Christensen, president of Medical Modeling LLC in Golden, Colorado, looks at the vast opportunities that rapid-prototyping and rapid-manufacturing have to revolutionize the medical and health fields. Christensen's company is already doing some miraculous things to save the lives of some and greatly improve the lives of others.
Download | Duration: 00:18:57
Fractional Manufacturing -- The Great Equalizer
Fractional Manufacturing shakes up manufacturing industry. Entrepreneurs and inventors now have the firepower of Boeing, the R&D of Xerox and the design capabilities of Apple, all on a budget that even a Manhattan cab driver can handle, according to US Reliant, itself an unabashed disruptive force in business and technology.
Springville, UT (PRWE
September 25, 2007 -- Hark all ye entrepreneurs, inventors and fellow planetary disrupters. Now you can have the firepower of Boeing, the R&D of Xerox and the design capabilities of Apple, all on a budget that even a Manhattan cab driver can handle, according to US Reliant, itself an unabashed disruptive force in business and technology.Indeed, the magic of fractional ownership of rapid-prototyping equipment is that it allows the little guy (or gal) to enjoy the full benefits of ownership of leading-edge technology, without the full price of ownership.
The potential, notes US Reliant, is unlimited and - get this - so far the competitive field is sparsely populated.
Rapid-prototyping and rapid-manufacturing (RP-RM) technology is two decades old. But it has largely been used in unimaginative and conventional ways. Moreover, the only companies that could really afford to own the technology were giants such as Boeing, Xerox and Apple.
"The industry is crying out for fresh blood and creativity, and now, the same entrepreneurial spirit that propelled the Internet boom is poised to (finally) launch the RP-RM industry into the stratosphere," says David A. McInnis, founder and CEO of US Reliant.
That is because with an investment of under $10,000, innovators can now own - not rent or use - a share of state-of-the-art RP-RM equipment. "It's yours to experiment with, test, create and profit from," says McInnis.
<< MORE >>
Hear Todd A. Grimm's Vision for Success
In an exclusive interview now posted on the US Reliant web site, Todd A. Grimm, founder and president of T.A. Grimm & Associates, Inc., draws on his 17 years in the product development industry to make some recommendations for ways the rapid-prototyping, rapid-manufacturing industry can foster breakout sales and profits.
Download | Duration: 00:19:42
Snapshots of the Future: Wired Magazine's NextFest Exhibition
Wired Magazine's NextFest Exhbiition was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, September 13-16, 2007. The event featured innovations in communications, design, entertainment, exploration, health, games, robots, transportation and security.
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Interior shots of NextFest, including (bottom left) SSG Heath Calhoun ret., an Iraq war veteran, demonstrating state-of-the art prosthetics, and Barbara J. Basney (bottom right), director of Global Advertising for Xerox Corp., displaying the company's solid ink for desktop printers.
All Photos © 2007 Low-Volume Manufacturers Association.
Here’s A Riddle: What Allows Companies the Benefits of RP-RM Ownership without the Costs and Hassles?
On first blush, the answer may appear to be service bureaus for those companies that need rapid-prototyping and rapid-manufacturing (RP-RM) capacity, but don’t want to pony up the significant capital investment required. And, of course, once a company acquires a RP-RM machine, it must house it, maintain it and take the risks associated with its eventual obsolescence.
In a recent post on the US Reliant website, C. Alex Linde, an evangelist for fractional ownership of manufacturing assets, spells out in easy-to-follow words and numbers exactly why fractional ownership of RP-RM assets for many companies is a better alternative to outright ownership and to service bureaus.
Once companies solve the ownership “riddle,” the path to greater profits and a better balance sheet seems really quite simple.
Weekly Stock Report -- September 7, 2007
3D Systems Corp. (TDSC) fell 9 cents per share on the week, closing at $19.95 each. Neither company reported any significant developments during the week.
| Week Ending | SSYS | TDSC | |||||
| * On a split-adusted basis | |||||||
| 8/10/07 | $24.72* | 5.57% | $23.91 | 21.68% | |||
| 8/17/07 | $24.65* | -0.28% | $23.41 | -2.09% | |||
| 8/24/07 | $25.27* | 2.52% | $20.27 | -13.41% | |||
| 8/31/07 | $25.15 | -.047% | $20.04 | -1.13% | |||
| 9/7/07 | $26.04 | 3.54% | $19.95 | -0.45% |
Stereolithography Customers to Share Success Stories at 3D Systems World Conference
3M, BMW Sauber and SC Johnson Representatives Are among the Industry Leaders Who Will Educate and Inspire Attendees from 17 Countries
ROCK HILL, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--3D Systems Corporation (NASDAQ: TDSC), a leading provider of 3-D Modeling, Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing solutions, announced today that representatives of 3M, BMW Sauber and SC Johnson will give presentations on Stereolithography to the global audience of the 3D Systems World Conference from September 24-27, 2007, in Rock Hill, S.C.
The 3M/Brontes Technologies presentation to be given by Rob Nazzal and Patrick Dunne will focus on breakthroughs in digital dentistry with 3D Systems’ Stereolithography Technology. Their company has developed a chairside oral scanner that, when combined with 3D Systems’ Viper™ Pro SLA® System, replaces the use of plaster models poured from dental impressions.
“Brontes Technologies' chairside oral scanner will change how dentists take impressions and how laboratories use them,” said Nazzal, who is responsible for product management and the development of services for Brontes Technologies. “Patrick and I will discuss how Brontes is enabling dental laboratories to make restorations from digital impressions.”
<< MORE >>Weekly Stock Report -- August 31, 2007
As of Thursday, August 30th, Stratasys Inc. (SSYS) began trading on an adjusted basis, reflecting its two-for-one stock split which applied to all SSYS shares held on August 15th.
The net effect of its split is that Stratasys shares now “look” cheaper to potential investors, although the split has no real-world impact on the value of the underlying company.
According to The Wall Street Journal Online, Stratasys now has 20.89 million shares outstanding and a total market capitalization of $525.5 million.
On its newly split-adjusted basis, Stratasys closed off 12 cents for the week at $25.15 a share. On Friday, the shares of the Minneapolis-based manufacturer were off 48 cents from the stock’s Thursday close, which equates to a one-day decline on a pre-split basis of 96 cents.
Since hitting its 52-week high on August 9th, Stratasys shares have been ratcheting lower.
3D Systems Corp. (TDSC) shares have been on an even sharper downward path since they hit their 52-week high on July 5th. Since then, shares of the company have fallen $6.46 a share, or 24%.
For the week ending August 31, TDSC closed at $20.04, off 23 cents a share.
Chinese Ambassador Briefed On Benefits of Fractional Ownership of U.S. Low-Volume Manufacturing Assets
PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Key members of the Chinese diplomatic corps, including His Excellency Zhou Wenzhong, Ambassador to the United States, met here to learn about opportunities in fractional ownership of U.S.-based rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing (RP-RM) equipment.
David A. McInnis, who led the U.S. delegation of business executives, explained to the Chinese Ambassador and his colleagues how fractional ownership of RP-RM technology can serve the interests of both the United States and China. McInnis is founder and CEO of Tangible Express, a Springville, Utah-based company that is the first in the world to offer shared ownership of state-of-the-art, low-volume manufacturing technology.
While the Chinese are proven global leaders in mass production, the country frequently must turn away low-volume production orders and prototype-related work. In a formal presentation, C. Alex Linde, Tangible Express’ President and COO, showed the Chinese diplomats how their country can strategically deploy U.S.-based RP-RM manufacturing to serve their clients’ short-run manufacturing and prototyping needs.
Ambassador Wenzhong, who was joined by members of both the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C. and the San Francisco Consulate, expressed strong interest in Tangible Express’ business model and how it might aide Chinese manufacturers.
Photo: David A. McInnis presents Ambassador Wenzhong a pen-box manufactured on state-of-the-art rapid prototyping machines. Looking on is the Ambassador's wife.
"It is a wonderful idea to improve efficiency and cut costs," the Ambassador said of RP-RM after the briefing was completed. "The Chinese people like [efficiency and cost cutting] very much."
Tangible Express' Linde stressed the fact that his company's patent-pending system makes it possible for any global company to own and control key, high-tech manufacturing assets in the U.S. at a fraction of the cost of purchasing and operating those assets outright. Importantly, Linde noted, U.S.-based companies that do large-volume production overseas can utilize the Tangible Express model to rapidly design, make and test small-volume runs before committing to full, costly production.
Tangible Express' McInnis, Linde and other key company executives will visit China in October to continue their briefings and meet with Chinese manufacturers seeking to invest in the United States.
"We were truly heartened by the strong interest Ambassador Wenzhong took in Tangible Express," McInnis said. "The investment of his time and that of senior members of his diplomatic corps illustrates the enormous power embodied in our vision of shared-manufacturing."
Tangible Express came to the attention of the Chinese on the heels of its rapid growth and success making shares of RP-RM equipment available to U.S. manufacturers, engineers and designers. The Tangible Express model allows companies the benefits of ownership, without incurring the expense, overcapacity, repair and maintenance hassles, or risks of obsolescence that are associated with full ownership.
Companies that buy Tangible Express fractional shares are also able to access the unused capacity of other fractional owners if their needs change or grow.
More information on the innovative solutions offered by Tangible Express and its parent company, US Reliant is available at www.tangibleexpress.com and www.usreliant.com.
Weekly Stock Report -- August 24, 2007
But on August 28, the Motley Fool-- a popular sight with individual investors -- forecast that the industry may be poised for a breakout in the coming years.
"If the price [of purchasing a 3-D printer] continues to plummet," writes Fool contributor Jack Uldrich, "the number of companies using these machines could explode." Uldrich, who has written two books on nanotechnology, goes on to say: "This will be especially true as a new generation of designers comes to understand that they can easily create complex shapes and parts to produce new products that were previously too expensive, if not impossible, to manufacture."
For the week ending August 24, 3D Systems fell $3.14 a share, or 13.4% to $20.27. The company made no announcement nor does there appear to be any news to explain the sharp decline.
Stratasys rose $1.24 a share on the week, closing up 2.5% at $50.54.
Uldrich notes that the other two leading manufacturers in the rapid-prototyping industry, Z Corporation and Desktop Factory, are privately held.
Must Reading: The Age of Speed
Pick up a copy of The Age of Speed by Vince Poscente, a former Olympic speed skier who explains how to get ahead in an age where the speed of business keeps accelerating. The book, from award-winning business publisher Bard Press, is subtitled, "Learning to Thrive in a More-Faster-Now World."
I recently read the book on a two-hour flight from Los Angeles to Portland, and still had time to review extensive notes for an upcoming meeting. Although the book is a fast read -- what would you expect -- it is valuable for all executives and investors who wish to understand the competitive advantages offered by rapid manufacturing and rapid prototyping and why momentum is swinging our way.
You can read my full review of the book on the US Reliant blog.
-- Dean Rotbart