The purchases of the ProMaker LD-10 system were made by leading dental laboratories in Italy, Germany and the United States through its early-adopter program.
Based on the company’s patented MOVINGLight technology, the LD-10 makes up one third of Prodways’ LD 3D printer series which it presented at a number of trade shows last year, including formnext powered by TCT. The MOVINGLight technology was attracted a number of dental players to invest in Prodways 3D printing technology, from manufacturers of dental aligners to larger dental labs and production centres.
That interest in MOVINGLight has continued as the LD series was brought to market last year. The LD series, Prodways believes, demonstrates its commitment to offering a high quality process in a compact and versatile format at an affordable price – less than €100,000 for the first models in the series. In addition to the resins that Prodways already offers for this range – for dental models intended for restoration; for dental models used for thermoforming; and burnout resins for the casting of fixed crowns or stellites – the company will be bringing two more to market for 2018. These include a resin dedicated to surgical guide applications and temporary bridge crowns and a new material for hearing aids. These new materials come as a result of the most recent company acquisitions made by Prodways Group: Cristal, a French dental laboratory and Interson Protac, another French company which makes ear tips for hearing aids and customized hearing protectors. Meanwhile, Prodways has also confirmed the sale of a ProMaker P4500 HT to a ‘top aircraft manufacturer.’ It comes after Prodways partnered with Safran and the recent launch by Renaissance Services, an American firm supporting other aerospace and defence companies, of a new entity which uses Prodways’ additive manufacturing technology.
Prodways believes this most recent sale of the laser sintering machine, in addition to around ten other ‘major clients’, confirms the business’ expertise within the aeronautics sector. The ProMaker P4500 HT attracted the aerospace player because of its high temperature capabilities, able to operate at temperatures of up to 220°C, and its large production platform of 400 x 400 x 600 mm. Thought Prodways hasn’t confirmed the identity of the customer, it has said the company will use it within its R&D centre to develop new applications and design parts with complex geometries that are typically difficult to manufacture with traditional methods. These components may be used in engines, turbines, aeroplane wings and cabin interiors.
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