3D Systems and The Valspar Corporation Announce the Agreement for the Joint Development, Production and Distribution of Laser Sintering Powders.

Business Editors

VALENCIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 13, 2003

3D Systems Corp. (Nasdaq:TDSC) and The Valspar Corporation (NYSE:VAL) announced an agreement for the joint development, production and distribution of proprietary laser sintering (LS) powders used exclusively in the Selective Laser Sintering (SLS(R)) 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. 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(TM) material with less variability, and materials that offer better recycling, among others," said 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 the materials they require to produce end-use parts," continued Flaharty. "3D Systems patent portfolio prohibits third parties from selling or using laser sintering systems in the U.S. that are not licensed, manufactured or sold by 3D Systems," he noted.

"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(SM) (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 will push the envelope. One of our strengths is working with customers to develop specialty 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 license 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(SM), provides solid imaging products and solutions that 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 that can be used in design communication, prototyping, and as functional end-use parts.

3D Systems currently offers the ThermoJet(R) solid object printer, SLA(R) (stereolithography) systems, SLS(R) (selective laser sintering) systems, and Accura(TM) materials (including photopolymers, metals, nylons, engineering plastics and thermoplastics).

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 and/or SLS systems dedicated to full-time manufacturing applications.

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, or 661/295-5600 ext. 2882 internationally. An investor packet can be obtained by calling 800/757-1799.

Note to editors: Advanced Digital Manufacturing and the solid imaging company are service marks; si2 is a trademark; and ThermoJet, SLA, SLS, Keltool and the 3D logo are registered trademarks of 3D Systems Inc.

Certain statements in this news release may include forward-looking statements 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 company's ability to successfully implement all elements of its 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.