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News Release from: DSM Somos
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 05 February 2002
Joint venture to open up fast
prototyping markets
A new joint venture will focus on the development and commercialization of new equipment and materials for rapid tooling and direct and indirect in-line manufacturing processes.
3D Systems Corp (Nasdaq: TDSC) and DSM Desotech today announced the companies have formed OptoForm LLC, a joint venture that will focus on the development and commercialization of new equipment and materials for rapid tooling and direct and indirect in-line manufacturing processes The materials will include ceramics, composite tooling materials and toughened plastics
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 13 Apr 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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This technology is expected to open up new markets aimed at producing more functional parts.
Research and development activities are taking place in both 3D Systems' facility in Valencia and in DSM Desotech's Somos facility (New Castle, Delaware, United States).
The joint venture initially is placing three OptoForm engineering evaluation units at customer locations to facilitate continued technical development of materials, hardware and software.
Further reading
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Stereolithography resin is optically clear
DSM Somos, leading technology innovators in the rapid prototyping (RP) materials industry, will be launching a new family of ProtoFunctional stereolithography resins at EuroMold in Frankfurt.
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According to MTI, Somos 10120 WaterClear provided optical clarity that allowed a client to test its product design earlier and realise time savings
The OptoForm units will be utilized for technical evaluation of tough plastics, ceramics and composite tooling materials for the automotive, aerospace and tooling industries.
Full commercialization of this technology is expected during the last half of 2002 and the beginning of 2003.
As the technology matures, both companies believe it will rival the importance of their present stereolithography-related businesses.
"With the acquisition of OptoForm SARL in January 2001, 3D Systems began the development of a product line known as DCM (direct composite manufacturing)," said Grant Flaharty, executive vice president at 3D Systems.
"The agreement with DSM Desotech is expected to allow both companies to focus efforts on the development of solutions for the tooling and manufacturing industries.
"We believe we can make great strides with the OptoForm technology," Flaharty added.
"We expect that the joint venture will enable us to bring a fully commercialized OptoForm system to market more quickly." "We are very pleased to announce the agreement with 3D Systems," said Steve Hartig, vice president of marketing at DSM Desotech.
"By sharing our expertise, and with both companies' strong intellectual property position in this area, we will have a focused effort to meet the demands of the marketplace, and we can expect significant product development synergies to result." This joint venture agreement is subject to government review and satisfying all filing requirements.
DSM Desotech is a global leader in the development and manufacture of ultraviolet light and electron beam (UV/EB) curable materials and operates as a business unit of DSM - a highly integrated group of companies with worldwide interests in life science products, performance materials and chemicals.
DSM reported sales of Euro 8.1 billion in 2000 and employs a total workforce of some 22,000, in more than 200 operations throughout the world.
In 1999, DSM Desotech announced its acquisition of Dupont Somos - now DSM Somos.
Somos is currently the world's second-largest materials supplier and the premier technology innovator to the rapid prototyping industry, providing stereolithography liquids and selective laser sintering powders used for the creation of three-dimensional models and prototypes directly from digital data.
Somos ' patented ProtoFunctional materials are used by various industries, including automotive, aerospace, medical and telecommunications. Request free introductory details about products from DSM Somos ...
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