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3D打印行业Review of the Year: June 2020

June of 2020 yielded a number of major business deals, including government-backed contracts with the likes of Photocentric and Nextflex. Stratasys underwent a major restructuring, VELO3D made strides with its largest order to date, and the aerospace and construction sectors showcased the potential of additive manufacturing with crucial project advancements.

提高PPE生产

In light of COVID-19, 3D printer manufacturer光中心was将英国国家卫生局(NHS)的合同授予3D印刷760万3D防护罩在六个月内。此后,该公司总部位于英国彼得伯勒(Peterborough),将其专有树脂的技术和印刷设施投入工作,并交付了第一批面部护罩.

“我为整个团队在PhoteCentric展示的独创性和努力感到自豪。我们已经证明,可以使用我们专利的3D打印技术来迅速设计并制造数百万个全新产品的单位。

Similarly, Hungarian 3D printer manufacturerCraftBotlaunched its ownRapid Local Manufacturing Center(RLM)在英国康沃尔郡生产3D印刷PPE。除了担任制造工厂外,该中心还充当信息中心,为整个英国提供业余爱好者提供支持和指导,以使用自己的3D打印机来帮助减轻国家短缺,这当时是一个严重的问题。

3D printed PPE parts. Photo via Craftbot.
3D printed PPE parts. Photo via Craftbot.

削减成本和资本注射

As a by-product of the pandemic, 3D printer manufacturerStratasys公司announced a majorreduction of its global workforce在10%的地区,作为以“更精益”的业务模式运作的计划的一部分。重组是由于COVID-19造成的经济影响的结果,其调整大小用于降低运营成本,并将公司的金融轨迹更改为更有利可图的轨迹。

Yoav Zeif, CEO of Stratasys, stated: “This reduction in force is a difficult but essential step in our ongoing strategic process, designed to better position the company for sustainable and profitable growth. I would like to express my appreciation to each of the employees impacted by this decision for their dedicated service.”

On the other hand, Californian metal 3D printer manufacturerVELO3D大约在同一时间宣布了额外的1200万美元资本随着新的战略投资者的增加,该公司的总资金达到了1.5亿美元。这一消息伴随着宣布Velo的消息收到了总计2000万美元的订单对于其许多专有LB-PBF Sapphire 3D打印机。此次出售仍然是该公司迄今为止历史悠久的最大订单,并已交付给未命名的航空航天客户。

Velo3D的蓝宝石3D打印机。通过Velo3d的照片。
VELO3D’s Sapphire 3D printer. Photo via VELO3D.

也在美国,NextFlex,一个旨在推进柔性混合电子(FHE)的公司的联盟,进入了seven-year cost-sharing agreementAir Force Research Laboratory(AFRL). The deal entailed the Department of Defense providing $154M in capital to fund the development of 3D printed electronics with a focus on military and defense-related applications.

AFRL材料和制造局首席科学家Richard Vaia博士说:“我们很高兴能继续与NextFlex及其成员的合作关系。”“五年前不存在灵活的混合电子制造生态系统。如今,这些技术不仅为我们当前的平台提供了组件解决方案,而且在2030年的未来转型能力中彻底改变了我们的设计概念。”

Wind turbines and rocket engines

在相对的利基市场,但正在成长的混凝土3D打印领域,GE可再生能源,COBOD, 和LafargeHolcimentered a three-way partnership to co-develop and 3D print“record-tall” wind turbine towers. While these towers are typically limited to about 100m in height, the partnership is expected to enable wind turbine towers in the region of 200m, as they will be printed on-site rather than transported. The height increase certainly comes with its perks as well, as a turbine operating at double the height generates around 33% extra energy.

Lafargeholcim研发负责人Edelio Bermejo表示:“混凝土3D打印对我们来说是一项非常有前途的技术,因为其令人难以置信的设计灵活性扩大了建筑可能性的领域。作为清洁能源的用户和促进者,我们很高兴能够将我们的材料和设计专业知识投入到这个开创性的项目中,从而实现高高的风力涡轮机的成本效益构造,并加速获得可再生能源的机会。”

最后,航空公司公司Arianegroup, which is a joint venture between空中客车Safran, successfully tested its first完全3D打印燃烧室. The chamber is featured on the company’s Prometheus aerospace engine, which underwent a total of 14 fire tests between 26 May and 2 June on the P8 test bench of theDLR德国航空中心的Lampoldshausen测试设施。

Prometheus发动机具有3D打印的燃烧室。通过Arianegroup的照片。
Prometheus发动机具有3D打印的燃烧室。通过Arianegroup的照片。

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特色图片显示在其印刷农场的PPE上心生产PPE。通过PhotCentric进行照片。