3D Systems Acquires Acu-Cast, Launches 3Dproparts Service

ROCK HILL, SC, Oct 1, 2009 - 3D Systems Corporation (NASDAQ: TDSC), a leading provider of 3D printing, rapid prototyping and manufacturing solutions, announced today that it acquired the assets of Acu-Cast Technologies, a leading provider of rapid prototyping and manufacturing services that offers precision parts made on a wide range of traditional and additive manufacturing systems and a variety of finishing, molding and casting capabilities.

The terms of the transaction were not material. 3D Systems expects this acquisition to be accretive to its future operating income.

Concurrently, 3D Systems announced the launch of 3Dproparts, the world’s largest rapid prototyping and manufacturing parts service. The company expects its 3Dproparts service to bring together the widest range of production and additive grade materials and the latest additive and traditional manufacturing systems to enable 3D Systems to deliver to its customers the broadest available range of precision plastic and metal parts and assemblies.

“Our 3Dproparts service can handle any customer project – large or small – completely within our facilities and in-house expertise, delivering quality precision real-parts made from production and additive grade plastics and metals with speed and efficiency,” said Abe Reichental, President and CEO of 3D Systems. “We expect that the synergies generated by combining our latest generation of Pro systems and materials with Acu-Cast’s extensive experience in additive and traditional manufacturing, coupled with its part building know-how and state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, will provide our customers with the ultimate one stop shopping experience for all their design, prototyping and manufacturing needs.”

3Dproparts is further enhanced through a proprietary and secure 24-hour online quoting-and-ordering website that preserves user confidentiality. To try 3Dproparts automated quoting process, go to www.3Dproparts.com. 

“Over the past decade we have become an important extension of the in-house modeling, prototyping and manufacturing capabilities of many of our customers as well as a fulfillment partner for many service bureaus,” said Gary Mitchell, formerly President of Acu-Cast Technologies. “As part of 3D Systems’ new 3Dproparts service, we plan to invite all of 3D Systems’ existing Preferred Service Providers and other leading service bureaus to use 3Dproparts as their comprehensive order-fulfillment center.

“Unlike other online and traditional service bureaus that offer narrow systems and materials selection and limited in-house capacity, from the get go, 3Dproparts is offering a complete choice of parts that are fully produced in-house on the latest generation equipment from a comprehensive range of plastic and metal production grade materials. 3Dproparts has the capacity to handle all of our customers’ peak demand requirements and to deliver the same quality service seven days a week,” concluded Mitchell.

3D Systems is leveraging the relative proximity of its Acu-Cast facilities to major overnight distribution hubs to offer same-day shipping service. The company also plans to integrate its own Rapid Manufacturing Centers in Rock Hill, South Carolina and Darmstadt, Germany into a global 3Dproparts service and intends to grow this activity both internally by providing a differentiated customer experience and through additional strategic acquisitions.

Conference call and audio webcast details

3D Systems will hold a conference call and audio webcast to discuss the Acu-Cast acquisition and the launch of its 3Dproparts service on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 11:00 a.m., eastern time (ET).

• To access this conference call, dial 1-888-336-3485 (or 706-634-0653 from outside the United States). The confirmation code is 329-775-98.
• To access the audio webcast, log onto 3D Systems’ website at www.3Dsystems.com/ir. To ensure timely participation and technical capability, we recommend logging on a few minutes prior to the conference call to activate your participation. The webcast will be available for replay beginning approximately three hours after completion of the call at: www.3Dsystems.com/ir.

About 3D Systems Corporation

3D Systems is a leading provider of 3D Printing, rapid prototyping and direct manufacturing solutions. Its systems and materials reduce the time and cost of designing products and facilitate direct and indirect manufacturing by creating actual parts directly from digital input. These solutions are used for design communication and prototyping well as for production of functional end-use parts: Transform your products.

For more information, visit www.3dsystems.com.

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Source: Material used in press releases is often supplied by external sources and used as is.