ROCK HILL, SC, May 19, 2015 – 3D Systems announced a new cooperative R&D agreement with Naval Sea Systems Command’s (NAVSEA) Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD). In accordance with this agreement, 3DS and the US Navy will jointly develop and evaluate 3D printing technology and materials for military uses, including helping the Navy fulfill a number of strategic initiatives. The US Navy’s partnership with 3DS underscores the disruptive potential of 3D printing to redefine the supply chain for naval ship components, and reinforces 3DS’ ability to continue to modernize the US defense industrial base.
“The US Navy is at the forefront of a concerted military effort to integrate 3D printing into their operations,” said Neal Orringer, 3DS’ vice president of Alliances and Partnerships. “Through their Print-the-Fleet initiative, the Navy is educating sailors on the latest in digital manufacturing and accelerating adoption of 3D printing. We’re proud that our technology – our direct metal printing and our advanced polymer materials – are going to play an integral part in the Navy of the future.”
”Additive manufacturing has the potential to be a truly disruptive technology and shows great promise for supporting Naval Sea Systems components,” said Jennifer Wolk, NSWCCD’s additive manufacturing lead. “However, a great deal more needs to be done to ensure this technology can be qualified for repeatable, safe, and effective use. This cooperative research and development agreement is an important step toward broader utilization of this technology.”
Development and qualification of new materials and printer technology under this agreement will help ensure appropriate adoption of this technology within the Navy supply chain.
About 3D Systems
3D Systems provides the most advanced and comprehensive 3D digital design and fabrication solutions available today, including 3D printers, print materials and cloud-sourced custom parts. Its powerful ecosystem transforms entire industries by empowering professionals and consumers everywhere to bring their ideas to life using its vast material selection, including plastics, metals, ceramics and edibles. 3DS’ leading personalized medicine capabilities save lives and include end-to-end simulation, training and planning, and printing of surgical instruments and devices for personalized surgery and patient specific medical and dental devices. Its democratized 3D digital design, fabrication and inspection products provide seamless interoperability and incorporate the latest immersive computing technologies. 3DS’ products and services disrupt traditional methods, deliver improved results and empower its customers to manufacture the future now.
Today its comprehensive range of 3D printers is the industry’s benchmark for production-grade manufacturing in aerospace, automotive, patient specific medical device and a variety of consumer, electronic and fashion accessories.
More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com.