Product category:
Fast prototyping equipment, pattern-making and services
News Release from: 3D Systems | Subject: Laser sintering powders
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 16 January 2003
Laser sintering powders to be developed
jointly
3D Systems and the Valspar Corporation announce agreement for the joint development, production and distribution of laser sintering powders.
3D Systems and The Valspar Corporation have announced an agreement for the joint development, production and distribution of proprietary laser sintering (LS) powders used exclusively in the selective laser sintering (SLS) systems from 3D Systems "The partnership with Valspar will give us the ability to have more control over the level of quality and consistency of our LS materials and will enable us to exclusively offer LS materials of a higher grade then any LS material currently available
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 23 Mar 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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The partnership is expected to provide tremendous benefits to our SLS system customers, including widening the range of materials offered to include materials such as fire retardant nylons, glass filled nylons with better consistency, DuraForm material with less variability and materials that offer better recycling," says Grant Flaharty, president and COO of 3D Systems.
"Our customer base is looking for greater versatility, reliability and repeatability of LS materials.
By partnering with Valspar to develop and manufacture LS materials we will be able to provide our customers with the materials they require to produce end-use parts," continues Flaharty.
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"The joint development program with 3D Systems is ideal for Valspar," said Michael Brandt, President of Valspar's European business.
"3D Systems continues to drive the Advanced Digital Manufacturing (ADM) industry by partnering with material manufacturers to produce powders that when combined with the SLS System technology produce end-use production parts directly from their solid imaging systems.
Valspar has the knowledge and expertise of materials development for the SLS Systems.
Developing new and innovative products with 3D Systems will allow us to develop materials that push the envelope.
One of our strengths is working with customers to develop speciality materials that exceed extreme requirements," continued Brandt.
"Valspar is an industry leader in powder coating applications and has developed its own unique powder technology.
In addition, we have a long history of working closely with talented polymer suppliers, such as DeGussa, and have secured licence rights from them for laser sintering applications." About Valspar Corporation - the Valspar Corporation is a leading global paint and coatings manufacturer and distributes a broad portfolio of products, including industrial coatings for factory application; packaging coatings and inks for rigid containers; architectural paints, varnishes and stains; automotive refinish and other specialty coatings; and specialty polymers and colorants.
About 3D Systems - founded in 1986, 3D Systems, the solid imaging company, provides solid imaging products and solutions that reduce the time and cost of designing products and facilitate direct and indirect manufacturing.
Its systems use patented technologies to create physical objects from digital input that can be used in design communication, prototyping, and as functional end-use parts.
3D Systems currently offers the ThermoJet solid object printer, SLA (stereolithography) systems, SLS (selective laser sintering) systems, and Accura materials (including photopolymers, metals, nylons, engineering plastics, and thermoplastics).
3D Systems is the originator of the ADM (Advanced Digital Manufacturing) solution for manufacturing applications.
ADM is the utilisation of 3D Systems solid imaging technologies to accelerate production of smaller volumes of customised/specialised parts.
A typical ADM center is expected to contain multiple 3D Systems' SLA, MJM and/or SLS systems dedicated to full-time manufacturing applications.
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