During RAPID 2015 Sigma Labs demonstrated how a partnership with Honeywell in non-destructive quality inspection systems for metal-based additive manufacturing was benefiting the certification needed for high end 3D printing applications, today Sigma has announced a joint venture company with Cincinnati-based Arete Innovative Solutions LLC. The new entity, Arete-Sigma, will be a comprehensive metal solutions provider for the burgeoning AM market. The joint venture will offer a full suite of services from design through prototyping and manufacturing of high precision metal components.
Arete Innovative Solutions specialises in the metals AM process, creating custom-designed solutions. Arete is led by Bill Herman, formerly Vice President of Operations for Morris Technologies, Inc., which was acquired by GE Aviation in 2012. At the time of its acquisition, Morris Technologies was the premier service bureau provider in North America for metal AM parts. Mr. Herman's expertise includes design for AM, a critical first step necessary for companies hoping to tap into the metal AM process. He will be President of the Arete-Sigma LLC joint venture.
"This is an exciting development for Sigma Labs which I believe will accelerate the Company's growth prospects going forward," said Mark Cola, President and CEO of Sigma Labs. "The joint venture will bring unique manufacturing competencies and capabilities within the metal AM space together under one roof – giving us the ability to offer clients design, process control, and quality assurance solutions not found anywhere else. It is also a means for Sigma Labs to conduct ongoing applications research in a representative market setting. The entity is dedicated to providing potential customers with access to the full benefits of additive manufacturing, and we expect to capitalize on increasing demand in the area while making it easier for adoption of metal AM in real-world applications. I couldn't be happier in having it led by Bill Herman, who brings both design experience and operational expertise from his time at Morris Technologies, previously the premier service provider in the AM metal space."
"We're thrilled to be working with a leader in AM quality assurance such as Sigma Labs," added Bill Herman, President of Arete Innovative Solutions. "Arete and Sigma Labs view the 3D metal printing space as poised for significant growth over the coming decades but also in need of a new approach to both educating customers and making AM a compelling value proposition. Bringing our two companies together is a sensible way to attract new clients and expand the industry by making AM applications more easily understood, implemented, and utilized for large-scale production. We look forward to a long relationship in addressing this very important market going forward."
With the merger of three decent-sized service bureaus Solid Concepts, RedEye and Harvest Technologies into Stratasys Direct Manufacturing, Arete-Sigma have spotted an opportunity for another large sized service provider of metal 3D printing in the US.
