2023-05-04 08:48:08
With the acquisition of the Swedish company Wematter, 3D Systems is taking an interesting step in the market for SLS 3D printing. Wematter’s Gravity SLS printer is an SLS printer that has been developed for printing end parts, but is in the middle segment of the market in terms of price. 3D System had Wematter in its sales program since last fall.
Jeffrey Graves, CEO of 3D Systems, says he expects that this acquisition will enable a new target group to take advantage of the benefits of additive manufacturing. “Wematter has designed an SLS solution that is unrivaled in the industry and enables the technology to be used in environments where it was previously thought impossible.”
Closed loop powderhandling
With this, the CEO of 3D Systems refers to, among others, hospitals, research institutions and laboratories that want to quickly produce parts for end use, but do not have a typical production department. Manufacturing companies for whom SLS technology was previously unattainable can now also start working with it. The Gravity 3D printer, with a building volume of 300 by 300 by 300 mm, only needs a standard socket and an Ethernet connection. The machine has a closed loop powder system: unused powder remains in the printer for the next build. New powder is added without any powder being released. Printing is done in a conditioned building room that constantly keeps the temperature at the right level. Wematter builds the Gravity 3D printer in three versions: Essential, Essential+ (these have a smaller build volume) and Enterprice. All systems are supplied as a complete set, including a cleaning station that cleans with water.
Last fall, 3D Systems announced that it would become a worldwide distributor for the Wematter SLS printer. According to Jeffrey Graves, it has become clear that the Swedish team and the technology fit well within 3D Systems and add value. That is now happening through the takeover.
The acquisition will be completed in July. In the Benelux, sales of the Wematter SLS printers have been with 3D Supplier (Malcolm Riesewijk) since the beginning of this year, which also sells the 3D printers from Photocentric and Raise 3D.
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