Align Technology Awards Geomagic Software License and Development Contract
$1.6-million initial commitment from Invisalign maker sets stage for first application of mass customization
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., February 5, 2001-- Align Technology (NASDAQ: ALGN), maker of the Invisalign orthodontic system, has awarded Geomagic a software license and development contract valued at more than $1.6 million.
The contract is the first phase of what is expected to be a long-term strategic partnership between the two companies. It will help make Align Technology the first company to offer "mass customization" -- individually designed products that can be manufactured in large quantities for the general public. Align is expected to deliver millions of Invisalign devices, each precisely fitted to individuals during various stages of orthodontic treatment.
Align's customized manufacturing process requires the latest technologies in computer graphics and animation, computational geometry, computer vision, and 3D scanning and printing. Geomagic is providing patented technology and engineering services that enable Align to optimize its manufacturing process to meet current demand and increase its capacity in the future.
"This agreement is the most significant milestone since Geomagic's inception [in 1996]," says Ping Fu, the company's president and CEO. "Align Technology will make history as the first company to lead the wave of mass customization for the 21st century."
Align Technology selected Geomagic as its partner based on the company's technology and "world-class talent," according to Zia Chishti, Align Technology's CEO. "Our design and manufacturing processes require automation, throughput and customization, all of which Geomagic has the unique ability to provide."
Geomagic develops and markets Geomagic Studio, the first 3D product to provide precise dimensional (geometry) and photometric (color) information in one process. The result is true-to-life 3D models that can be created in minutes by anyone, rather than in days by a specialist. The company was founded in 1996 and is based in Research Triangle Park, N.C.
Align Technology designs, manufactures and markets the Invisalign System, a proprietary new method for treating malocclusion, or the misalignment of teeth. The Invisalign System corrects malocclusion using a series of clear, nearly invisible, removable appliances that gently move teeth to a desired final position. Because it does not rely on the use of metal or ceramic brackets and wires, the Invisalign System significantly reduces aesthetic and other limitations associated with braces.
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Media contacts: Bob Cramblitt, Jill Aitoro |