Stratasys and Desktop Metal extend strategic partnership
May 20, 2017
Stratasys Ltd, Rehovot, Israel, and Desktop Metal, Burlington, Massachusetts, USA, have announced an extension of their strategic partnership, which they state is designed to accelerate the accessibility and adoption of metal Additive Manufacturing. According to both companies, the strategic partnership aims to leverage Stratasys’ nearly thirty years of AM experience alongside Desktop Metal’s metal AM technologies.
As a result of this partnership, customers will be able to work with Stratasys resellers who will begin representing Desktop Metal solutions recently announced Studio System and Production System, alongside Stratasys’ broad family of advanced solutions.
Expected to ship September 2017, Desktop Metal’s Studio System is reportedly the first office-friendly metal AM printing solution. According to Desktop Metal, the system is up to ten times less expensive than current metal AM systems and makes it possible to produce highly complex metal parts and assemblies without leaving the office.
Following the release of the Stratasys FDM-based F123 Series, the companies believe that customers will benefit from the complementary nature of both technologies – now with the ability to expedite product development cycles by producing both plastic and metal prototypes in an office-friendly environment.
“Stratasys has always been focused on providing customers with cutting-edge Additive Manufacturing innovations with our PolyJet and FDM solutions,” stated Ilan Levin, CEO, Stratasys. “Today our offerings are used by customers worldwide – across automotive, aerospace, healthcare, education and consumer products – to achieve rapid prototyping, tooling and manufacturing processes. As one of the early investors in Desktop Metal, we realise customers are seeking additional ways to incorporate metal into their essential design and manufacturing processes. Today’s announcement takes this commitment one step further – empowering global manufacturers and engineers to expedite product development cycles by producing both plastic and metal parts in office-friendly and production-based environments.”
“Working with well-respected strategic partners like Stratasys adds critical capabilities for broadening access to our metal AM systems,” added Ric Fulop, CEO and Co-Founder of Desktop Metal. “The addition of Stratasys’ network of resellers allows us to deliver more effectively to our market and also enables Stratasys’ customers to gain access to Desktop Metal’s systems while retaining the service and support they have come to expect.”
