At this year’s International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago, Materialise, a global leader in 3D printing software and services, took the spotlight by announcing two major partnerships aimed at revolutionizing the investment casting process. These collaborations with Stratasys and Formlabs underscore Materialise’s commitment to integrating 3D printing with traditional manufacturing practices, offering innovative solutions that reduce cost and improve efficiency.
I sat down with JP Velasco, OEM Partner Manager, and Don Licht, Director of OEM Partnerships and Channel Development, to discuss Materialise’s latest initiatives and their broader implications for the manufacturing industry.
Manufacturers Can Now Quickly Produce High-Quality Master Patterns for Investment Casting Production with New 3D Printing Build Processor from Stratasys and Materialise (Photo: Business Wire)
Bridging the Gap Between Additive and Traditional Manufacturing
Materialise has been at the forefront of the 3D printing revolution since 1990, initially serving as a service bureau before evolving into a provider of advanced software solutions for additive manufacturing. According to Velasco, Materialise recognized early on that files for 3D printing often failed, prompting them to focus on developing software designed specifically for additive manufacturing.
“Our software connects every industry with every technology, ensuring that users of 3D printers can create high-quality parts,” said Velasco. This commitment to quality is what has positioned Materialise as a crucial player in the additive manufacturing ecosystem, particularly in sectors like investment casting, where the stakes are high.
