3D Systems' Figure 4 Platform Enables Rapid Application Group to Double Capacity - Accelerating Mission-Critical Production

ROCK HILL, S.C., Dec. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD), the originator of 3D printing, announced that Rapid Application Group (Broken Arrow, Oklahoma), a disabled veteran-owned additive manufacturing firm, has doubled its production capacity and throughput with 3D Systems' Figure 4™ Standalone 3D printer. This industry-leading plastic 3D printer is helping Rapid Application Group support mission critical, time-sensitive operations for customers in the oil and gas, aerospace and defense, motor sports, and healthcare sectors.

Rapid Application Group opened its doors nearly two years ago – growing 300% in the last 12 months of operation. Since its inception, the company has built its capabilities by adding two 3D Systems sPro 60 HD-HS SLS printers, and partnering with 3D Systems' On Demand to provide stereolithography (SLA), Direct Metal Printing (DMP) and MultiJet printing (MJP) services. Rapid Application Group is also partnering with 3D Systems' team to provide investment casting patterns using the new ProJet^® MJP 2500 IC, which they intend to bring in-house next year. After incorporating the Figure 4 Standalone printer into its workflow this past August, Rapid Application Group immediately doubled its capacity while reducing its time-to-print process by nearly 90% - from seven hours to 45 minutes or less.

"The Figure 4 Standalone – including 3D Sprint^® – truly delivers as promised with outstanding ease-of-use, six sigma repeatability of production parts, and incredible speed," commented Terry Hill, owner and CEO, Rapid Application Group. "The robust materials and injection-molding-quality surface finish, combined with very quick print times, have helped us double our capacity and throughput. We have already achieved full ROI with this one, remarkable 3D printer."

In addition to delivering best-in-class additive manufacturing solutions to support mission critical and time-sensitive operations, 3D Systems' technologies have afforded Rapid Application Group the opportunity to give back to the community. Owner Terry Hill runs a series of additive manufacturing courses for high school students, helping them learn the fundamentals of workflows supporting the end-to-end production of 3D-printed parts. He's also helping disabled veterans through a new 'Veterans to Additive' program – a standardized certification course that trains veterans on the additive manufacturing process. Terry is not only utilizing 3D printing to positively impact disabled veterans, he is also conducting prosthetics research and prototyping to support disabled service animals.

Figure 4 Platform Delivers Unprecedented Speed and Scalability
3D Systems' Figure 4 platform is the industry's first modular, scalable, fully-integrated direct 3D production platform that enables customers to grow their business by transforming the way they design and manufacture parts. The Figure 4 platform incorporates high speed digital molding, a process that speeds and simplifies the production of plastic parts -- enabling manufacturers to match the accuracy, reliability, repeatability and uptime of traditional injection molding. These capabilities are enhanced through the incorporation of 3D Sprint, which is designed to help the user prepare and optimize CAD data and then manage the additive manufacturing process - eliminating the need for costly third-party options.

"3D Systems partners with our customers, delivering 3D printing solutions to not only transform their manufacturing environment, but helping them grow their business and maintain competitive advantage," said Phil Schultz, senior vice president, general manager, on demand and plastics, 3D Systems. "No matter the size and scope of a business, additive manufacturing can have an everlasting, positive impact on its end-users in more ways than one. It's a true honor to see our solutions play a multipurpose role at Rapid Application Group."

3D Systems is hosting a webinar featuring Terry Hill and Rapid Application Group at 11.am EST, on Thursday December 6, 2018. Find out more and register for this event here.

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 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.

About 3D Systems
3D Systems is the originator of 3D printing and an innovator of future 3D solutions. It has spent its 30-year history enabling professionals and companies to optimize their designs, transform their workflows, bring groundbreaking products to market and drive new business models. This is achieved with the Company's best of breed digital manufacturing ecosystem. It's comprised of plastic and metal 3D printers, print materials, on demand manufacturing services and end-to-end manufacturing software solutions. Combinations of these products and services address a variety of advanced applications- ranging from Aerospace, Automotive, and Consumer Goods to Medical, Dental, and Jewelry. For example, 3D Systems' precision healthcare capabilities include simulation, Virtual Surgical Planning, and printing of medical and dental devices as well as patient-specific surgical instruments. More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com.

SOURCE 3D Systems

Related Links

http://www.3dsystems.com