STRATASYS EXPANDS FDM AND POLYJET 3D PRINTING MATERIAL OPTIONS

Minneapolis & Rehovot, Israel – Jan. 29, 2015 – Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq:SSYS), a leading global provider of 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions, introduced new colors for its ASA thermoplastic and expanded its Digital Materials. Launched in September, ASA is an all-purpose FDM material used for the production of prototypes, manufacturing tools and finished goods. Adding to the previously launched ivory and black, the eight new color options for ASA include: red, orange, dark gray, yellow, green, dark blue, white and light gray. ASA now offers the most color options of any FDM material, allowing users the flexibility to create colorful parts that are UV resistant, strong and durable. ASA offers an exceptional surface finish and has the best aesthetics of any FDM material available. Compared to ABS, details such as printed text and other features are greatly improved by ASA’s matte finish.

Compatible with the Fortus 360mc, 380mc, 400mc, 450mc and 900mc 3D Production Systems, ASA thermoplastic can be used by manufacturers in a variety of industries including sporting goods, outdoor tools, electrical, toys and automotive. In addition to ASA’s new color options, Stratasys is expanding its PolyJet technology (which offers more than 1,000 material options) by adding 20 two-component Digital Materials that combine Endur with other base materials. Endur Digital Materials allow users to create parts using a range of gray-scale colors with rigid material options, as well as the ability to select a variety of Shore A values with flexible material options.

Eight new rigid Digital Materials offer a range of six gray shades and two white shades. Twelve new flexible Digital Materials offer a range of Shore A values. Six of these combine Endur with TangoBlackPlus and six combine Endur with TangoPlus.

Launched in 2014, Endur is an advanced simulated polypropylene material for use with the Objet EdenV, Objet EdenVS, Objet Connex systems, Objet30 Prime andObjet30 Pro 3D Printers. Endur offers prototyping benefits to a wide range of manufacturers in the consumer goods, household appliances, automotive parts, consumer electronics and lab equipment industries. Endur Digital Materials, available for Objet Connex 3D Printers, can produce thin walls, living hinges, snap-fits and moving or assembled parts. Examples include containers, CD cases, gaskets, shoe soles or handles.

“By introducing Endur Digital Materials, we are giving customers more flexibility and versatility to 3D print durable prototypes,” said Boaz Jacobi, director of product management for PolyJet consumables. “It’s a superior PolyJet solution for living-hinge and snap-fit applications.”

For more information about ASA’s new color options and Endur Digital Materials, contact a reseller or visit Stratasys’ website. Images and spec sheets for both materials are available by visiting the Stratasys newsroom.

UNILEVER LEVERAGES 3D PRINTING INJECTION MOLDS, SLASHING LEAD TIMES FOR PROTOTYPE PARTS BY 40%

Minneapolis & Rehovot, Israel – January 20, 2015 – Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq:SSYS), a global leader of 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions, today announced that the Italian division of international consumer goods giant, Unilever, has cut lead times for prototype parts by 40% since introducing Stratasys’ PolyJet 3D printing technology into its manufacturing process. Utilizing 3D printed injection molding tools, the company is now able to produce prototype parts in the final material for functional and consumer tests significantly faster than traditional tooling methods. 

Unilever, which owns brands such as Surf, Comfort, Hellmanns and Domestos, is using its Stratasys  Objet500 Connex Multi-material 3D Production System to produce injection mold tools for its household care and laundry goods divisions, with a run of around 50 units for a wide variety of prototype parts such as bottle caps and closures and toilet rim blocks.

“Stratasys 3D printing technology, we can design and print a variety of injection molds for different parts that can undergo functional and consumer testing, all on the same day,” explains Stefano Cademartiri, R&D, CAD and Prototyping Specialist at Unilever. “Before, we would have to wait several weeks to receive prototype parts using our traditional tooling process; not only would this lengthen lead times, it would also increase costs if iterations were required. With 3D printing we’re now able to apply design iterations to the mold within a matter of hours, enabling us to produce prototype parts in final materials such as polypropylene, 40% faster than before.” 

Armed with its Stratasys Objet500 Connex Multi-material 3D Production System from Italian reseller, Overmach, Unilever 3D prints its injection mold tools in Digital ABS – a material renowned for its high temperature resistance and toughness, making it ideal for injection molding applications. Cademartiri continues: “By 3D printing the injection molds in Digital ABS, we’re able to retain the high quality associated with traditional manufactured prototypes, while also enduring the high temperatures and pressures of the injection molding machine, at a significantly reduced cost and turnaround time.”

Unilever also produces thermoforming mold prototypes on its FDM-based Fortus 360mc 3D Production System, using ABS-M30 production-grade plastic. This enables the company to produce realistic molds with flexible strength that can also endure functional testing, crucial in developing the final thermoforming mold.

“Having previously outsourced our thermoforming requirements, we found that we were accumulating significant labor costs and having to contend with lengthy lead times,” concludes Cademartiri. “However, since 3D printing these parts ourselves, we’ve reduced lead times in the conceptual phase by approximately 35%. The technology has enhanced our overall manufacturing process, allowing us to evaluate our designs quickly and eliminate those that are not suitable, before committing significant investment towards mass production.”

Nadav Sella, Senior Manager Manufacturing Tools at Stratasys, adds: “We are seeing a growing trend among our customers to leverage our additive manufacturing systems as a manufacturing tool for a wide range of applications, in addition to direct prototyping. With the development of some of our recent, more durable materials, our customers can now enjoy flexibility in their choice of methods to create their manufacturing tools and test designs in their final production materials, before investing in costly metal tools.”