This series of news round-up gathers the latest news on mergers and acquisitions, fundings, distribution partnersips, and acquisition of new equipment in the additive manufacturing industry.
Mergers and acquisitions
Additive to become a 3DPRINTUK company
3DPRINTUK, a UK-based service provider of polymer powder bed fusion (PBF) 3D printing processes for prototyping and manufacturing applications has agreed terms to acquire Additive (formerly Digits2Widgets).
Since 2020, 3DPRINTUK has been investing extra miles to further develop on the AM market: from new equipment to investments in new facilities, the company’s new positioning will enable both companies to reach a new set of customers.
Commenting on the deal, Nick Allen, CEO at 3DPRINTUK says, “With both companies being located in London, Additive and 3DPRINTUK have long been friends in the industry. This has largely been driven by mutually high standards for quality 3D printed parts alongside a determined effort by both companies to maintain realistic expectations around the use of additive technologies. As a result, this feels like a very natural progression. I can categorically state that 3DPRINTUK will continue to strive to improve the already high standards of both companies.”
Fundings
Redefine Meat secures $29M Round ahead of global market launch
Alt-Meat expert Redefine Meat has completed a $29 million (USD) A-series funding round led by Happiness Capital and Hanaco Ventures. The new funding follows a successful large public blind-tasting of its products in Israël.
As a reminder, Redefine Meat develops a patented industrial-scale digital manufacturing technology that delivers sustainable plant-based meat products with a taste and mouthfeel indistinguishable from traditional animal meat.
The investment will be used to expand the company’s meat portfolio and support its commercial launch and international growth in 2021, on the back of the slated completion of a large-scale production facility for Redefine Meat’s industrial 3D Alt-Meat printers set for later this year.
Alongside Happiness Capital and Hanaco Ventures, we find CPT Capital, an alternative protein investor and early supporter of Redefine Meat, as well as other notable new international investors including Losa Group, Sake Bosch, and K3 Ventures.
Distribution partnerships
Xact and GoEngineer sign a sales and service partnership
Xact Metal™ has recently announced a distribution agreement with GoEngineer. For those who do not know, Xact develops metal 3D printers for SMEs. Known for its XM200C metal 3D printer, the company aims to drive the adoption of AM with affordable metal 3D printing without jeopardizing quality. GoEngineer provides a complete range of industry solutions from software to 3D printers and trainings. With 35 years of experience in the industry, the company is known as the leader in sales of Stratasys polymer printers and the #1 North American leader for SOLIDWORKS for many consecutive years.
Through this exclusive sales and service partnership, GoEngineer will provide local customers in the western United States with Xact’s metal 3D printers.
Zortrax and Skriware sign a Letter of Intent to boost education
Poland-based 3D printing Company Zortrax has signed a letter of intent with Skriware, a company that has dedicated its core business to foster the use of technologies such as 3D printing in education.
Starting from Q3 of 2021, Zortrax M200 Plus 3D printers will become a part of Skriware range of solutions. The first joint project of Zortrax and Skriware is going to be placing a bid to deliver fully equipped SkriLab workshops to over 4.5 thousand schools in Poland under the “Active Blackboard” program.
This means that, via an inCloud service, Zortrax devices will soon become tightly integrated with the Skriware educational ecosystem. Furthermore, Zortrax M200 Plus 3D printers will become a standard equipment in SkriLabs, innovative educational classrooms which enable schools to use new technologies to revolutionize teaching of various different subjects.
According to Skriware, interdisciplinary and immersive approach with 3D printing is particularly important for students with physical or mental disabilities, or facing other difficulties like inability to focus. Today, Skriware has a network of 12 distributors covering multiple countries in the EU and beyond like the Republic of South Africa, Malaysia, Australia, India, or various Middle East countries.
Acquisition of new equipment
Franklin Bronze Precision Components invests in a Laser SLA 3D Printer for Rapid Prototyping and Short Runs
Franklin Bronze Precision Components, a manufacturer of investment castings for glass container, pumps & valves, steel, automotive and food processing has recently acquired a Laser SLA 3D Printer.
With this new addition to its production portfolio, the company aims to prove out design changes without needing to alter the tooling each time.
“For instance, making a gating change can be proved before cutting into the tool. We are looking forward to working on trials and iterations for new and existing parts with our customers in a more efficient manner. Additionally, working with customers that have an intricately designed part”, states Neil Kruse, Senior IC Process Engineer.
AMEXCI to explore specific case studies with different 3D printers from SLM Solutions
AMEXCI and Selective Laser Melting expert SLM Solutions deepen their collaboration to further accelerate the industrialization of metal-based Additive Manufacturing.
A quick background of AMEXCI reveals that the company has been founded by eleven Nordic based industrial companies and develops a new generation of products using AM. It also offers a wide range of trainings and workshops to build up successful business cases for their customers.
In this vein, AMEXCI has acquired a Selective Laser Melting machine SLM®500, equipped with four 700 W lasers. The quad-laser 3D printer would be a good candidate for the rapid cost-effective production of large metal parts. Indeed, the build cylinder can be adapted so that it minimizes machine downtime while maximizing productivity and reducing cost per part. The manufacturer explains that the multi-laser overlap strategy with up to four 700-Watt lasers ensures maximum efficiency.
In a press communication, SLM Solutions states that as part of this partnership, specific case studies will be used to evaluate Additive Manufacturing and test the competitive industry advantages of different machines and technologies offered by its 3D printers. Additionally, AMEXCI evaluates the use of the recently introduced SLM® machine NXG XII 600 for industrialized series production.
Remember, you can post job opportunities in the AM Industry on 3D ADEPT Media free of charge or look for a job via our job board. Make sure to follow us on our social networks and subscribe to our weekly newsletter : Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn & Instagram ! If you want to be featured in the next issue of our digital magazine or if you hear a story that needs to be heard, make sure to send it to contact@3dadept.com