3D Systems Expands High Precision Investment Casting Portfolio with QuickCast Air™

Rhea-AI Summary

3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) has introduced QuickCast Air™, an advanced tool in its investment casting portfolio. This innovation maximizes material removal from casting pattern interiors, resulting in:

• Up to 50% reduction in material consumption
• Multi-hour reduction in build times
• Cleaner burnout processes
• Improved draining efficiency

QuickCast Air enhances 3D Systems' pioneering QuickCast® solution, which has been an industry standard for additively manufactured casting patterns since the mid-1990s. The tool is available through 3D Systems' 3D Sprint® software, offering customers greater design flexibility and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional injection molded wax patterns. This development aligns with the growing investment casting market, projected to reach $33.9 billion by 2034.

Positive

• QuickCast Air reduces material consumption by up to 50% for some large-volume aerospace customers
• Customers are experiencing multi-hour reductions in build times
• The tool enhances cost competitiveness with traditional injection molded wax patterns
• QuickCast Air expands 3D Systems' leading position in additive manufacturing for investment casting
• The investment casting market is projected to grow from $16.9 billion in 2023 to $33.9 billion by 2034, indicating significant market potential

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

3D Systems' introduction of QuickCast Air™ represents a significant advancement in their investment casting portfolio. The technology's ability to reduce material consumption by up to 50% and cut build times by multiple hours could lead to substantial cost savings and improved efficiency for customers. This innovation positions 3D Systems favorably in the rapidly growing investment casting market, projected to reach $33.9 billion by 2034.

While specific financial impacts aren't disclosed, the potential for increased market share and customer adoption is notable. The cost competitiveness with traditional methods could drive wider adoption, potentially boosting 3D Systems' revenue in this sector. Investors should monitor future earnings reports for signs of increased sales or market penetration resulting from this product launch.

Manufacturing Technology Expert

QuickCast Air™ represents a significant leap in additive manufacturing for investment casting. The technology's ability to maximize material removal from casting pattern interiors addresses key industry pain points: material waste, burnout efficiency and draining. By reducing material consumption and build times, it not only cuts costs but also improves the overall casting process quality.

The software's integration with 3D Systems' existing 3D Sprint® platform ensures seamless adoption for current customers. This advancement could accelerate the shift from traditional wax injection molding to additive manufacturing in investment casting, particularly in industries requiring complex, high-precision parts like aerospace and defense. The potential for QuickCast Air to make additive manufacturing more competitive with traditional methods could be a game-changer in the $33.9 billion investment casting market.

Market Research Analyst

The investment casting market's projected growth to $33.9 billion by 2034 presents a substantial opportunity for 3D Systems. QuickCast Air™ positions the company to capitalize on this growth by addressing key market demands for efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The technology's ability to reduce material consumption by up to 50% aligns with increasing industry focus on sustainability and resource optimization.

3D Systems' long-standing presence in this market since the 1990s provides a strong foundation of customer trust and industry knowledge. The subscription model for QuickCast Air could create a recurring revenue stream, potentially improving the company's financial stability. However, market adoption rates and competitive responses from other additive manufacturing companies will be important factors to monitor in assessing the long-term impact of this innovation on 3D Systems' market position.

• Advanced software tool maximizes material removal from casting pattern interiors for cleaner burnout, more efficient draining
  
• Customers realizing up to 50% reduction in material consumption, multi-hour reduction in build times
• Step change in material efficiency has demonstrated cost competitiveness with traditional injection molded wax patterns
• Expands on Company’s pioneering solution that is recognized as the industry standard to additively manufacture casting patterns
• 3D Systems’ solutions driving growth of additive manufacturing use in investment casting — total market anticipated to reach $33.9 billion by end of 2034
  

ROCK HILL, S.C., Sept. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD), announced QuickCast Air™ - an advanced tool in its investment casting portfolio, designed to maximize material removal from the interior of casting patterns. This enables reduced material consumption, lower pattern costs, faster build times, cleaner burnout processes, and improved draining efficiency. As a result, end-users in industries such as foundries, aerospace & defense, and energy can reliably deliver large, high-precision investment casting patterns at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional tooling and with no limitation on geometric complexity. QuickCast Air is already helping some of the Company’s large-volume aerospace customers reduce the material consumption on their patterns by up to 50%. Additionally, customers are seeing a multi-hour reduction in build times.

QuickCast Air is available to 3D Systems’ customers through its 3D Sprint^® software which is integral to the Company’s polymer printing platforms. This feature, available via an annual subscription, allows customers to design casting patterns with fewer structures within the self-supporting walls. Using less resin and building more refined support structures results in less material needing to be burned out and thus less ash. Furthermore, having less internal structure makes it easier to drain the resin, thus retaining more within the vat during the draining process rather than being lost downstream. Within 3D Sprint, users can easily adjust the part’s shell thickness and add vents and drains on any surface, simplifying part set-up regardless of the build orientation.

Investment casting is the process of pouring molten metal into ceramic shells made from sacrificial patterns with a history that is thousands of years old. Using traditional methods such as creating a wax injection tool is both time consuming and expensive requiring several weeks and tens of thousands of dollars. In the mid-1990s, 3D Systems pioneered creating high precision casting patterns using 3D printing, introducing the manufacturing industry to QuickCast^®. This 3D-printed investment casting process enables manufacturers to produce lightweight, hollow parts with 3D Systems’ polymer technologies such as Stereolithography (SLA), or MultiJet Printing (MJP) that ultimately can be used to produce end-use metal components. QuickCast patterns are recognized as the leading type of additively manufactured high precision pattern across the industry enabling manufacturers to improve efficiency and reduce cost.

“Since 3D Systems introduced QuickCast more than two decades ago, we have continued to evolve this unique tool and the capabilities it provides,” said Patrick Dunne, VP, advanced applications, 3D Systems. “Our customer-centric approach to innovation fuels this transformation by closely aligning with their unique challenges. As with many of our products, QuickCast Air was born from a specific customer’s application requirements. I’m pleased that we are now able to bring this advanced tool to market thus refining the design and production of investment casting patterns. I’m looking forward to seeing how the adoption of QuickCast Air will continue to unlock design freedom and accelerate production timelines.”

According to Transparency Market Research¹, the investment casting market was valued at $16.9 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach $33.9 billion by end of 2034. Additive manufacturing is disrupting this sector by enabling a more cost-effective, efficient alternative to the traditional pattern making process that does not require tooling. As the pioneer of an industry-standard methodology, 3D Systems has demonstrated its extensive experience helping customers address their application challenges through its additive manufacturing solutions comprising materials, 3D printing technologies, software, and services. As a result, a variety of industries are able to reliably deliver large, high-precision casting patterns in a fraction of the time and at much lower cost than associated with traditional tooling.

3D Systems will showcase QuickCast Air in its booth (West Building, booth 433129) at this year’s International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) to be held September 9-14 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Show attendees are welcome to stop by to see how 3D Systems’ large-format 3D printing solutions accelerate problem-solving on the factory floor to optimize workflows, increase uptime, and extend equipment life. For more information, please visit the Company’s website.

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 revise 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.

¹ Transparency Market Research, “Investment Casting Market (Material Type: Ferrous Alloys and Non-ferrous Alloys) – Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2024-2034” (May 2024).

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

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a09d946-abe8-4029-bc4a-934cff243acf

FAQ

What is QuickCast Air and how does it benefit 3D Systems (DDD)?

QuickCast Air is an advanced tool in 3D Systems' investment casting portfolio that maximizes material removal from casting pattern interiors. It benefits DDD by reducing material consumption by up to 50%, decreasing build times, and improving cost competitiveness with traditional methods.

How does QuickCast Air impact the investment casting process for 3D Systems (DDD) customers?

QuickCast Air allows DDD customers to achieve cleaner burnout processes, improved draining efficiency, and faster build times. It enables the delivery of large, high-precision investment casting patterns at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional tooling, with no limitation on geometric complexity.

What is the projected market size for investment casting, and how does this affect 3D Systems (DDD)?

The investment casting market is projected to reach $33.9 billion by the end of 2034, up from $16.9 billion in 2023. This growth potential presents significant opportunities for DDD, as their additive manufacturing solutions are disrupting the sector by offering more cost-effective and efficient alternatives to traditional pattern-making processes.

When and where will 3D Systems (DDD) showcase QuickCast Air in 2024?

3D Systems (DDD) will showcase QuickCast Air at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) from September 9-14, 2024, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. The company's booth will be located in the West Building, booth 433129.