Tangible Express Introduces Fractional Ownership for the Rapid Prototyping Industry.

Giving Fractional Owners Access to Multiple Rapid Prototyping Processes and Materials at a Fraction of the Full Cost of Ownership, the New Tangible Alliance Program[TM] (TAP) Revolutionizes the Rapid Prototyping Industry

SALT LAKE CITY -- Springville, Utah-based Tangible Express, a rapid prototyping service provider, announces the introduction of a fractional ownership model to the rapid prototyping (RP) industry. Through the new Tangible Alliance Program[TM] (TAP), capital-intensive and highly technical RP machines can now be purchased at a fraction of the full cost of ownership.

Tangible Express borrowed from the successful business model used in fractional business jet ownership to develop the Tangible Alliance Program(tm). Using the model, an owner simply purchases a fraction of an RP machine based on its anticipated annual machine utilization -- generally in ownership increments of one-sixteenth. Tangible Express continues to manage the machine, maintenance and building of prototypes for TAP fractional owners and ships parts per owner instructions.

"Fractional ownership of rapid prototyping machines provides a solution never before available to those who use rapid prototyping services," explained Alex Linde, Tangible Express President and COO. "Using the Tangible Alliance Program, fractional owners gain access to multiple RP processes and materials for about half the cost of using a rapid prototyping service bureau."

The program enables TAP owners to save money by sharing machine and operational costs among other fractional owners. Owners achieve additional savings since they do not need to hire and train experts to operate the machines, invest in post-processing equipment or remodel their facility to accommodate large equipment.

"There are so many companies out there that want to buy rapid prototyping machines and need access to this technology," Linde continued. "However, they cannot justify the high cost of full ownership based on their production requirements. The Tangible Alliance Program makes it easy for these companies to match the price of ownership with the production volume required."

Tangible Express has chosen to exclusively offer SLA (Define: SLA) and SLS machines (Define: SLS) and materials from 3D Systems[R] because of their leadership position in the industry.

"We have added three new machines from 3D Systems over the last several months and are expecting to add additional machines as more businesses learn about this program," stated Craig Taylor, Tangible Express Director of Operations.

Tangible Express will continue to offer rapid prototyping service production, producing prototypes for businesses and individuals who don't require fractional ownership.

About Tangible Express

Tangible Express, a Utah-based company, pioneered the rapid prototyping fractional ownership model with its Tangible Alliance Program(tm). As a service provider, Tangible Express produces prototypes for manufacturers, design firms and other companies needing high-quality parts built from state-of-the-art equipment. Tangible Express also provides other services such as product design, engineering, and cast urethane molds.