Sep 3, 2014
In order to further enhance its metal printing, 3D Systems announced today that it has acquired Belgium-based LayerWise, a spin-off of the Catholic University of Leuven and a leading provider of advanced direct metal 3D printing and manufacturing services.
LayerWise manufactures 3D-printed metal parts on its own proprietary line of direct metal 3D printers, for aerospace, high-precision equipment and medical and dental customers. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to 3DS' cash generation. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but it is certain that 3D Systems acquires 100 percent of the shares of Layerwise.
Since 2008, LayerWise has designed and built its own direct metal 3D printers. Its proprietary powder-to-solid metal printers can produce functional metal parts at convincing production scale. LayerWise's direct metal printers deliver relative part density of up to 99.98% and match conventional metals mechanical properties, at substantial unit weight reduction. These capabilities have led to rapid adoption of LayerWise manufacturing services by medical device, transportation and precision equipment customers for whom weight-reduction, strength and accuracy are paramount.
In 2012, Belgian and Dutch scientists have successfully replacing a lower jaw with a 3D printed model for a 83 year-old woman, and the titanium model was printed by Layerwise. The operation was performed in June in the hospital in Sittard-Geleen, one day later the lady could start talking and swallowing.
The company also produces metal parts for the industry, including lamps manufacturer Sylvania and the European Space Agency (ESA).
"The addition of LayerWise, with its award-winning direct metal printing technology, automated manufacturing processes at convincing scale and leading medical devices services, extends our first mover advantage in these high-growth areas substantially, to the immediate benefit of our aerospace, automotive and medical device customers," said Avi Reichental, President and CEO, 3DS.
LayerWise will operate under the continued leadership of co-founders Jonas Van Vaerenbergh and Peter Mercelis and immediately pursue new projects in its high-end target markets.
LayerWise's operating profit is 262.841 euros and the gross margin is 3.6 million. On the other hand, 3D Systems is a giant. The company posted 513.4 million euro turnover last year.
Posted in 3D Printing Company
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Hello, I am Adithya Challapalli, from University if North Texas. We have a professional 3-D printer(Projet HD 3500PLUS) in our lab. We are looking for maintenance services for our 3-D printer. Please let me know if you can help us, so that I can foreword communication with you to my professor. Thank you. Adithya Challapalli, Graduate Research Assistant, Mechanical and Energy Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas.