LMI Technologies Acquires German Company GFMesstechnik GmbH, A Leading Structured Light Supplier In 3D Metrology

  • Acquisition of 100 percent of the shares 
  • Expansion into new markets – life sciences, coordinate measuring machines (CMM) and surface metrology
  • Strong presence in Germany
  • Additional access to a world-wide reseller network
  • Integration of its precision calibration and measurement know-how

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LMI Technologies has signed an agreement to acquire 100 percent of the shares of GFMesstechnik GmbH  (“GFM”, www.gfm3d.com) – a leading supplier of 3D metrology products based in Teltow/Berlin. The acquisition will result in the integration of GFM by LMI Technologies under the LMI brand creating a strong presence in Germany and increasing product representation worldwide with the addition of the GFM reseller network.

At 30 employees and €5m annual revenue, GFM is a pioneer in the development of structured light metrology since 1995 and was one of the first companies that worked closely with Texas Instruments to integrate their DLP (Digital Light Processing) technology into highly accurate 3D measurement products such as their leading MikroCAD instruments. GFM focuses on small volume measurement (as small as 1mm) with very high accuracy (100nm) suitable for surface analysis of micro texture or inline inspection of electronic, medical, or pharmaceutical parts with microscopic detail. GFM’s 19 years of working with customers to solve their measurement challenges has allowed them to develop extensive application knowledge and advanced 3D measurement algorithms.

“GFM’s knowledge of instrument design and ultra precise measurement will be integrated across LMI’s structured light HDI and Gocator product lines – enabling amazing new levels of performance for demanding applications requiring very high resolution.”, states Terry Arden, CEO. “GFM staff will continue on by joining the LMI team and building 3D scanner products that focus on ease of use allowing customers to realize the benefits of 3D and achieve better business results.”

Dr. Frankowski, founder and President of GFM, is committed to assuring the integration of GFM with LMI. “I am pleased to know that customers, resellers, and staff will benefit from a larger organization who is a proven and dedicated supplier of 3D scanning and inspection products in a variety of industries. LMI is a very talented organization who understands how to develop and support high volume, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) relationships necessary to grow 3D market share.”

With the addition of GFM, LMI will expand into new markets such as life sciences and surface metrology by leveraging GFM’s existing reseller channel network, building on its customer base, and delivering next generation scanner products suitable for volume and OEM customers.

 

LMI Technologies Inc. 

At LMI Technologies, we are passionate about developing innovative 3D scanning and inspection technologies that solve complex problems in a simple way. We take our knowledge and experience from working over 35 years in the field and connect our customers to 3D solutions that enable them to achieve better business results. We build our products from the chip level up: from concept, design, to manufacturing. Today, many of the world’s largest companies rely on the expertise, innovation, and reliability built into every LMI 3D product. LMI Technologies is part of the AUGUSTA Technologie AG group – a publicly listed German company whose focus is in the area of vision technologies.

For more information, please visit www.lmi3d.com.

 

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The Future of Customized Fab-Grade 3D Printing

Sometimes technological developments are born out of necessity—you have a need, you fill it. But other times technological developments trigger new needs and ideas altogether. 3D printing, for example, really got people thinking about highly customized, highly complex parts. Now, we’re putting it on the fastest track yet to fulfill the promise of highly personalized, mass volume production with 3D printing.

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3D Systems is proud to release some of the first details about our new high-speed, continuous fab-grade printer, an advance that sets a new bar for mass-customization product manufacturing. Whereas 3D printers typically utilize a moving printhead on a stationary bed, the high-speed, continuous fab-grade printer puts the print bed in motion on speedy track system under a set of stationary printheads. The result is a 3D printing assembly line: many products printing at once, all unique, all in full color and multi materials. Parts in varying phases of completion move in a continuous flow. When a part is done, it exits the track for post-processing and a new print bed takes its place. This is high-speed, custom, continuous, and fully automated  manufacturing at its best.

 

This new standard in 3D printing is the engine behind the production of module shells for Google’s Project Ara, the initiative to create a modular smartphone that reflects each person’s unique style as well as choice of functional modules. With this level of speed and accuracy, people will be able to customize the look of their own phone to an extent never before possible. But the high-speed, continuous fab-grade printer’s potential doesn’t stop at cell phones. Take a look at this video to see how far 3D printing has come and how quickly it’s going forward with this high-speed fab-grade platform for the future.

 

This is part of a series of videos from 3DS that demonstrate how its fab-grade printers can manufacture thousands of parts at speeds comparable to traditional injection molding operations. Look at how 3DS is already breaking speed limits today with fab-grade 3D printers that effectively match and exceed the productivity of traditional injection molding in the direct manufacture of functional parts. This breakthrough opens up the possibility of just-in-time, high volume, flexible additive manufacturing using the company’s precision Stereolithography (SLA®) and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS®) advanced manufacturing printers, enabling manufacturers to produce functional, precision parts in seconds, without the need for tooling or a lengthy supply chain.

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The EKOCYCLE Cube 3D Printer

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3D Systems’ Fab-Grade 3D Printers Break The Speed Barrier Surpassing Traditional Injection Molding

  • Setting new benchmarks in speed and accuracy, the company’s fab-grade 3D printers deliver high volume manufacturing in seconds without costly tooling or an extended supply chain
  • See how 3D printing competes with injection molding in new video Read more
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Global 3D Printing Market Will Reach at Least $7 Billion by 2025

On May 22nd, IDTechEX released a report predicting the global market for 3D printing is set to reach $7 billion by 2025. The report outlines how 3D printing processes are being used in various industries today and how industries will be using the technology in the future. This outstanding growth is no surprise to us; we have barely scratched the surface in terms of what is possible with 3D printing technologies. Although it is difficult to predict just how fast it will grow, and which new product areas will develop the fastest, it is clear that companies increasingly turn to 3D printing to create new products because it is fast, efficient and it cuts costs. You can purchase and read IDTechEX’s full report here.
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“Sectors covered include aerospace, automotive, architecture, art, consumer, clothing, education, gadgets, hobbyist, justice, medical and sport as well as prototyping. Applications involving the 3D printing of thermoplastics, photopolymers, metals, ceramics, foods, plaster and concrete are described.”

IDTechEX pointed out the huge potential of 3D printed electrical components, a relatively new application of 3D technology:

“Many potential applications of 3D printing are still in the lab. 3D printed electronics has huge potential but is still embryonic in terms of development, with main players taking their first steps by 3D printing conductive and insulating materials into a single object. 3D printed electronics, including 3D printed transistors, will not be fully realised within ten years but some emerging medical applications will be commercialised well before 2025. With huge markets and minimal competition, these applications will grow very fast and quickly displace traditional engineering applications of 3D printing.”
The report covers 101 different companies involved in all existing 3D printing applications and contains the results of many new interviews with different institutions providing exclusive information about their current and potential uses of 3D printing.

For more details see www.IDTechEx.com/3Dapps and also attend IDTechEx’s event 3D Printing LIVE! USA 2014.