3D Systems Providing Advanced Digital Manufacturing System to New Boeing Venture.Business Editors & High-Tech Writers NOTE TO MEDIA: Multimedia assets available VALENCIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 5, 2002 3D Systems Corp. (Nasdaq:TDSC TDSC Thai Development Support Committee TDSC Time Domain Signal Coding TDSC Test Driver System - Charlie TDSC Time-Domain Spreading Code ) today announced the purchase of an initial two Vanguard(TM) SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) See laser sintering and 3D printing. (R) (selective laser sintering See laser sintering and 3D printer. ) si2(TM) systems, by On Demand Manufacturing (ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) A contract manufacturer that uses its own designs and intellectual property (IP). See contract manufacturer. ), a new subsidiary of The Boeing Company (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :BA) in Camarillo, Calif. As part of 3D Systems' Advanced Digital Manufacturing(SM) (ADM See add/drop multiplexer. (language) ADM - A picture query language, extension of Sequel2. ["An Image-Oriented Database System", Y. Takao et al, in Database Techniques for Pictorial Applications, A. Blaser ed, pp. 527-538]. ) solution, the newly acquired SLS systems will be used by ODM to perform rapid, low cost fabrication fabrication (fab´rikā´sh n the construction or making of a restoration. of small lots of complex, hard-to-manufacture parts. Because the SLS systems require no tooling or molding equipment, they will provide a significant reduction in the time and cost of manufacturing these parts. ODM's first contract will be to supply parts to Boeing for the environmental control system ducts of military aircraft. "We are starting off with non-structural parts, but we have a vision to take it much further. We are ramping up quickly and, if all goes as planned, we expect to have several more Vanguard sinterstations by this time next year," said John Wooten John Wooten (born December 5, 1936 in Carlsbad, New Mexico) was an American football guard who played nine professional seasons with the NFL's Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins. Wooten attended the University of Colorado. , general manager for ODM. "At the core of ODM's Advanced Digital Manufacturing approach is 3D Systems' laser sintering Building prototypes and finished parts in a machine from powdered thermoplastics and metals that are cured by heat from a laser. From CAD drawings that have been cross sectioned into thousands of layers, the machine builds up the part by curing one layer at a time. technology," explained Scot Thompson For the baseball player, see . Scot Thompson (born February 11, 1981 in New York, New York) is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Portland Timbers of the USL First Division. , Global Business Director, Aerospace for 3D Systems. "3D Systems' recent advances in software, materials, and process have advanced this technology from what was once primarily used to develop prototype parts to the creation of actual end-use parts through ADM. "ODM understands the benefits of this ADM technology. Design engineers are now totally free to design purely for functional use, rather than being limited to conventional design due to manufacturing constraints. By utilizing our SLS systems, ODM is capable of building components on demand directly from digital data. "We are delighted to work with ODM and Boeing to further develop ADM solutions for aerospace," continued Thompson. "Boeing is truly a pioneer in this revolutionary manufacturing process and is already using the SLS system for parts production for other military aerospace applications. Their vision and knowledge of specific requirements have led to extraordinary success in tool-less manufacturing. This is a perfect application to replace traditional tooling, producing end-use parts today and full life-cycle support into the future. We expect ODM and Boeing to lead the industry with their `build on demand' strategy," Thompson said. About 3D Systems Founded in 1986, 3D Systems, the solid imaging company(SM), provides solid imaging products and solutions to reduce the time and cost of designing products and facilitate direct and indirect manufacturing. Its systems utilize patented technologies to create physical objects from digital input used for design communication, prototyping and functional end-use parts. 3D Systems currently offers the ThermoJet(R) solid object printer, SLA (1) (StereoLithography Apparatus) See 3D printing. (2) (Service Level Agreement) A contract between the provider and the user that specifies the level of service expected during its term. (R) (stereolithography The first 3D printing technology, which was pioneered by Chuck Hull of 3D Systems. See 3D printing. ), SLS(R) (selective laser sintering) systems, and Accura(TM) materials (includes photopolymers, metals, nylons, engineering plastics, and thermoplastics). Product pricing in the U.S. ranges from $49,995, for the ThermoJet printer, to $799,000 for the high-end SLA 7000 system. 3D Systems multiple platform product line enables companies to choose the most appropriate systems for applications ranging from the creation of design communication models to prototypes to production parts. More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com, or by phoning 888/337-9786, extension 811, or 661/295-5600 internationally. An investor packet can be obtained by calling 800/757-1799. 3D Systems is the originator of the ADM (Advanced Digital Manufacturing(SM)) solution for manufacturing applications. ADM is the utilization of 3D Systems solid imaging technologies to accelerate production of smaller volumes of customized/specialized parts. A typical ADM center is expected to contain multiple 3D Systems SLA, MJM MJM Multi-Jet Modeling (prototyping manufacturing) MJM Metropolitan Japanese Ministry MJM Married Jewish Male and SLS systems dedicated to full time manufacturing applications. About ODM On Demand Manufacturing (ODM) has been operating as a Boeing subsidiary since June 6, 2002. The business originated from Boeing's Chairman's Innovation Initiative, which gives employees the opportunity to propose and develop new business concepts based on core technology or business strengths of the company -- in this case, laser sintering technology. Employees whose concepts are spun off into new ventures are given an opportunity to take a leadership role in these ventures. Note to editors: Advanced Digital Manufacturing and the solid imaging company are service marks, si2 and Accura are trademarks; and ThermoJet, SLA, SLS and the 3D logo are registered trademarks of 3D Systems Inc. Certain statements in this news release may include forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. that 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: the funding of amounts of capital adequate to provide for the working capital needs of the company; actions of competitors and customers; the company's ability to successfully design and produce new products, customer acceptance of new products; the company's ability to enter into successful relationships with new customers to fully exploit its products, the ability to successfully implement all elements of our restructuring and cost savings program, and such other factors as are described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements. Note: A Photo is available at URL URL in full Uniform Resource Locator Address of a resource on the Internet. The resource can be any type of file stored on a server, such as a Web page, a text file, a graphics file, or an application program. : http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.090502/bb3 |
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