3D Systems, Geomagic Team Up for Rapid Manufacturing Solutions
VALENCIA, Calif., November 29, 2001 – 3D Systems (Nasdaq: TDSC) and Geomagic have signed a development, marketing and sales agreement to provide turnkey hardware and software solutions for rapid manufacturing.
The new rapid manufacturing solution will include a 3-D scanner for data capture, Geomagic software for product design, 3D Systems' stereolithography (SL) solid imaging systems for rapid development, and SL materials used to produce the end product. The package also will include consulting and training on process, products and technology.
“This agreement reflects a cutting-edge vision of rapid manufacturing,” says Grant Flaharty, senior vice president of sales, marketing and product development for 3D Systems. “We are providing a solution that can significantly reduce the time and cost of getting our customers' products to market.”
Under the agreement, 3D Systems and Geomagic will contribute equally to costs for developing new software. 3D Systems will sell the turnkey solution with help from Geomagic's sales and technical team. Product marketing will be a joint effort.
“This is a big win for every company that is involved or wants to become involved in rapid manufacturing or mass customization,” says Ping Fu, president and CEO of Geomagic. “For the first time, the complete solution is available from the best and most-trusted vendors in the industry.”
The initial market for the turnkey solution will be the early adopters of rapid manufacturing – makers of medical devices such as customized hearing aids, dental devices and prosthetics. Many other vertical manufacturing markets – especially those for which customized products provide a competitive advantage – are expected to embrace rapid manufacturing in the near future, according to Fu.
The two companies already provide key technology components for Align Technology's (Nasdaq: ALGN) rapid manufacturing process. Align expects to produce millions of individually designed Invisalign® orthodontic devices this year.
Geomagic:
Media contacts: Bob Cramblitt, Jill Aitoro
Cramblitt & Company
Email: cramco@cramco.com
Phone: 919-481-4599
3D Systems: Jeff Krinks, public relations manager
Phone: 661-295-5600, ext. 2910
krinksj@3dsystems.com
About Geomagic
Geomagic develops 3D photography software that enables mass customization. Since 1996, Geomagic has provided the best tools for creating polygon models and NURBS surfaces from scanned point clouds. Manufacturers worldwide – including Toyota, Harley-Davidson, Align and many others – turn to Geomagic as their technology partner for mass customization and quality assurance.
Raindrop's flagship product, Geomagic Studio, delivers the power of 3D photography, allowing users to automatically turn physical objects into digital assets for mass customization. Major applications include design, reverse engineering, rapid manufacturing and web-based marketing of medical devices and other customized products.
About 3D Systems
Founded in 1986, 3D Systems provides solid imaging products and solutions that help reduce the time and cost of designing products and facilitate direct and indirect manufacturing. Its systems utilize patented technologies that create physical objects from digital input.
3D Systems currently offers the ThermoJet® solid object printer, SLA® systems (stereolithography) and SLS® systems (selective laser sintering), as well as related software and materials. Product pricing in the U.S. ranges from $49,995, for the ThermoJet printer, to $799,000 for the high-end SLA 7000 system. The company licenses the complementary 3D Keltool® process, a method for producing steel mold inserts, and currently is developing systems that use composite paste materials for direct manufacturing.
More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com, or by phoning 888/337-9786, extension 798, or 661/295-5600 internationally. An investor packet can be obtained by calling 800/757-1799.
Certain statements in this news release may include forward-looking statements which express the expectation, prediction, belief or projection of 3D Systems. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance and achievement of 3D Systems to be materially and adversely different from any future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements contained in this release and that may affect the company's prospects in general include, but are not limited to: world economic conditions including the unknown effects of the continuing U.S. military action; the funding of amounts of capital adequate to provide for the working capital needs of the company; actions of competitors and customers; reliance on single or limited suppliers; the ongoing costs and uncertain outcome of the arbitration proceeding between 3D Systems and Vantico Inc.; the ability to realize the cost reductions from the efficient integration of DTM into the business of 3D Systems; and such other factors as are described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including annual reports on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2000, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31 and June 30, 2001, and 3D Systems' current reports on Form 8-K filed on April 6, April 10 and Sept. 4, 2001.
Note to editors: ThermoJet, SLA, SLS, Keltool and the 3D logo are registered trademarks of 3D Systems. Invisalign is a registered trademark of Align Technology.