Wilting Expands Production Capacity with Three DMP Flex 350 Printers

Rhea-AI Summary

3D Systems (DDD) announces Wilting's addition of single and dual laser printers to address new applications with Titanium and Stainless Steel. The DMP Flex 350 printers enable 24/7 production of precise end-use parts, reducing argon gas consumption and delivering strong parts. Wilting's growth leads to a new facility and expansion into new markets.

Manufacturing Technology Analyst

Wilting's adoption of the DMP Flex 350 metal 3D printers represents a strategic move in advanced manufacturing technology, with implications for scalability and production efficiency. The DMP Flex 350's ability to maintain an oxygen level below 25 ppm is critical in producing parts with superior mechanical properties, as even small amounts of oxygen can lead to oxidation and compromised structural integrity in metal 3D printing. This technological advantage can lead to increased demand for Wilting's services from industries where part reliability is paramount, such as aerospace and medical devices.

The integration of Oqton's 3DXpert software streamlines the additive manufacturing workflow, potentially reducing lead times and enhancing the ability to produce complex geometries. This could lead to cost savings for Wilting's clients and may position Wilting as a leader in precision 3D printed parts, potentially impacting its market share and profitability. The move to a larger facility indicates a commitment to long-term growth and the ability to meet the rising demand for additive manufacturing, which could be a positive indicator for investors monitoring the company's expansion trajectory.

Materials Science Expert

The expansion of Wilting's materials portfolio to include Titanium and Stainless Steel addresses a growing market need for diverse high-performance materials in 3D printing. Titanium, known for its strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance, is particularly sought after in the biomedical and aerospace sectors. Stainless Steel's durability and resistance to extreme temperatures make it a versatile choice for a variety of industrial applications.

By dedicating printers to these materials, Wilting is optimizing its production process, which can lead to improved material properties and part performance. This focus on material specialization can enhance the company's reputation as a provider of high-quality, application-specific parts. For stakeholders, this could mean a broader client base and potential for increased revenue streams, while for the industry, it sets a precedent for material specialization in metal additive manufacturing.

Market Research Analyst

The investment in additional 3D printers and the emphasis on a broader materials portfolio indicate a response to market demand for customized, high-precision parts. The ability to produce parts on a 24/7 basis with dedicated materials suggests that Wilting is positioning itself to take on larger volume contracts, which could increase its market competitiveness.

Furthermore, the collaboration with 3D Systems' Application Innovation Group (AIG) and the technology transfer process may have accelerated Wilting's learning curve, providing it with a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving additive manufacturing industry. As Wilting expands into new markets, such as analytics and mobility, the company's growth trajectory could influence its stock valuation and attract potential investors looking for exposure to the industrial 3D printing sector.

• Addition of single and dual laser printers enables use of broader materials portfolio to address new applications with Titanium, Stainless Steel
  
• DMP Flex 350’s best-in-class oxygen level (<25 ppm), inert atmosphere ensures exceptionally strong, accurate parts for precision applications

ROCK HILL, S.C., March 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced that Wilting, an industrial machining and metal 3D printing service provider, has added two single laser DMP Flex 350 and one DMP Flex 350 Dual metal 3D printers to its manufacturing floor. Wilting has experienced significant growth in its business, and these new printers will help address both the increased production capacity and broader materials portfolio required by its customers. The installation of these three DMP Flex 350 systems, alongside the two that are already in use, will enable Wilting to dedicate printers to specific materials such as Titanium and Stainless Steel for 24/7 production of highly precise end-use parts.

3D Systems’ DMP Flex 350 platform is designed for flexible application use from application development to serial production. The quick swap build modules and fast powder recycling help accelerate production and a central server manages print jobs, materials, settings, and maintenance to facilitate the 24/7 productivity Wilting requires to meet customer demand. Due to the unique vacuum chamber concept of the DMP Flex 350 printers, argon gas consumption is heavily reduced while delivering best-in-class oxygen purity (<25 ppm) resulting in exceptionally strong parts of high chemical purity. The printer also includes Oqton’s 3DXpert software which supports every step of the additive manufacturing workflow from design to post-processing, to quickly and efficiently transition from a 3D model to successfully printed parts.

Wilting began as a precision machining company that was helping a large manufacturer of semiconductor capital equipment produce complex metal parts to improve system imaging accuracy and productivity. In 2012, Wilting began working with 3D Systems’ Application Innovation Group (AIG) to accelerate the adoption of advanced metal additive manufacturing (AM) capabilities and expertise in its facility in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Through this collaboration, Wilting built up its expertise in metal additive manufacturing, post-machining, and post-processing. Using the AIG’s technology transfer process, 3D Systems engineers shared knowledge and provided training to the Wilting team to streamline and accelerate their transition to AM and safeguard their investment. As a result, Wilting produces optimized components designed for higher performance in semiconductor capital equipment and the analytics and mobility industries and is leveraging this expertise and its additional DMP Flex 350 systems to expand into new markets and applications. To accommodate this growth and provide room for future expansion, Wilting is in the process of moving into a new 183,000 sq. ft. (17,000 m²) facility that is planned to be fully operational by mid-2024.

“Since the start of our Competence Center for 3D Printing, we built up the expertise and experience to produce parts at an industrial scale with predictable quality in multiple grades of Titanium,” said Geert Ketelaars, managing director, Wilting. “The recent investment in three additional printers allows us to address the growing demand from customers across several industries to onboard their new product introductions and to broaden our materials portfolio with Stainless Steel.”

“We place our customers and their applications at the center of each engagement,” said Raph Alink, account & business development manager, 3D Systems. “3D Systems pioneered the use of additive manufacturing to deliver precise, reliable parts for semiconductor applications. In the early days of our relationship with Wilting, it was rewarding to share the application expertise our AIG had built from more than a decade working with semiconductor capital equipment manufacturers to scale their use of additive manufacturing. As an industry leader, the team at Wilting quickly realized AM’s advantages. It’s a big step for a company to bring AM in-house, and Wilting has already mastered the technology and is now transferring that into volume production for its customers. I look forward to seeing how our collaboration will continue to unfold, and the potential that AM will unlock for Wilting and its growth.”

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from historical results or from any future results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In many cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as "believes," "belief," "expects," "may," "will," "estimates," "intends," "anticipates" or "plans" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based upon management’s beliefs, assumptions, and current expectations and may include comments as to the company’s beliefs and expectations as to future events and trends affecting its business and are necessarily subject to uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the company. The factors described under the headings "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other factors, could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected or predicted in forward-looking statements. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at which such performance or results will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included are made only as of the date of the statement. 3D Systems undertakes no obligation to update or review any forward-looking statements made by management or on its behalf, whether as a result of future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law.

About 3D Systems
More than 35 years ago, 3D Systems brought the innovation of 3D printing to the manufacturing industry. Today, as the leading additive manufacturing solutions partner, we bring innovation, performance, and reliability to every interaction - empowering our customers to create products and business models never before possible. Thanks to our unique offering of hardware, software, materials, and services, each application-specific solution is powered by the expertise of our application engineers who collaborate with customers to transform how they deliver their products and services. 3D Systems’ solutions address a variety of advanced applications in healthcare and industrial markets such as medical and dental, aerospace & defense, automotive, and durable goods. More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com.

Investor Contact:	investor.relations@3dsystems.com
Media Contact:	press@3dsystems.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e25ead74-cb9f-4419-abb5-f515f5ab847a

What did 3D Systems announce regarding Wilting?

3D Systems announced that Wilting, an industrial machining and metal 3D printing service provider, has added single and dual laser printers to its manufacturing floor.

How will the new printers help Wilting?

The new printers will help Wilting address increased production capacity and a broader materials portfolio required by its customers.

What materials can the DMP Flex 350 printers work with?

The DMP Flex 350 printers can work with materials such as Titanium and Stainless Steel for highly precise end-use parts.

What software does the DMP Flex 350 printers include?

The DMP Flex 350 printers include Oqton’s 3DXpert software which supports every step of the additive manufacturing workflow.

How is argon gas consumption reduced in the DMP Flex 350 printers?

Argon gas consumption is reduced in the DMP Flex 350 printers due to their unique vacuum chamber concept.