WHAT IS DESKTOP METAL?
Desktop Metal is an American Technology Company that designs and markets 3D printing systems.
Since its start, the company has raised $438 million in funding from Google Ventures, BMW, and Ford Motor Company. In January 2021, the company recently brought EnvisionTEC, a German company specializing in photopolymer printing.
Two months later, the company diversified into healthcare products and has launched several products in dentistry, orthodontics, Environed surgery, and printed regenerative.
Desktop Metal offers two types of printing systems.
1. The Studio System, a 3D printing system aimed at engineers and small production runs.
2. A production system used for manufacturing and large-scale printing.
In 2019, the company launched the Shop System, and it is a metal binder jetting printing system for machine and metal job shops. Besides that, Fiber, a continuous carbon fiber printer that uses automated fiber placement technology to produce parts, was also launched.
APPLICATION OF DESKTOP METAL IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY
Christian Tse and EAC Metal ornaments are behind creating ornaments seen on Luis Vuitton, Givenchy, and other fashion brands. They use Desktop Metal’s 3D printers to make their designs.
Using this 3D technology, consumer jewellery and fashion brands can keep up with the fast-changing consumer demands that change from season to season. At the same time, it reduces wastes and keeps the manufacturing process within the US.
Jonah Myerberg, the CEO and co-founder of Desktop Metal, said, “Jewellery is one of our biggest segments. We initially focused on the automobile industry, but jewellery companies came in and said they wanted to try 3D printing when we developed our technology.”
Myerberg added that “We saw that our customers have million dollars worth of gold, silver, and platinum tucked away in a warehouse. It is possible to make jewellery out of it, and 3D printers let you turn all that into a powdered form and then print it into any shape or size you desire. There are so many types of products that you can make out of that powder.
Many people think that 3D printing is not viable, but it is not so because there is no need for any special tool to manufacture the accessories, which helps cut expenses on supply chain costs.
Customization is a big part of 3D printing, and it is possible to change the design in any way you desire. Traditionally, to scale up the manufacturing of a product, you had to sacrifice the customization part.
Still, with digitization, you do not have to do that, which means making your product unique.
Before, brands would use this printing technology to create product models, but now, assembled products can be wholly printed. Whether it is a bracelet with moving parts or a solid pendant, it will be possible to print embellishments together, saving labour costs and making manufacturing within the country more accessible.
CONCLUSION
Desktop Metal is the 2021 winner of Fast Company’s Innovation by design Award in materials. Recently, the company has also announced opening a new manufacturing facility. This new facility will triple the final assembly space dedicated to the Production System platform. It will also help the company deal with the growing demand for the world’s fastest metal 3D printing technologies.
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