Hawk3DProto
Cutwel has announced the launch of its own dedicated 3D printing arm Hawk3DProto.
This significant rebranding of Cutwel's growing 3D printing offering indicates the company is deadly serious about making its mark as one of the UK's most recognisable 3D printing service providers and machine distributors.
Hawk3DProto will be managed by Cutwel's 3D Printing and Metrology Manager Ben Hawksworth, who has championed the company's foray into additive manufacturing from the start, playing a crucial role in striking a deal with Portuguese desktop 3D printer manufacturer BEEVERYCREATIVE to become the UK's sole distributor of the BEETHEFIRST 3D printer. Since then, Cutwel has added the Stratasys Idea Series to its portfolio, as well as the UP! and Tiertime Inspire 3D printers.
The name Hawk3DProto is easy to understand when you know Hawksworth is behind this venture - a pioneering move for an already very successful, well-established engineering tools supplier. But a company like Cutwel does not grow at the rate it has been expanding by resting on its laurels after nearly two decades.
Hawksworth told TCT Magazine that the decision to go it alone with Hawk3DProto was made in May 2014 and that a dedicated website is soon to be launched, allowing customers and enquiries to be directed straight to the company's increasingly busy 3D printing office.
"This is a separation from Cutwel and this is the launch of the rebranded Hawk3DProto," Hawksworth explained, adding that he kept the family name for this new venture as a nod to the fact Cutwel is a family business.
He added that the company’s 3D printing showroom - a dedicated and high-tech space for demonstrating their portfolio of printers - is nearing completion.
"It's all custom built and it's going to look fantastic when it's finished," Hawksworth said. "We had the initial phase of getting involved in 3D printing, back then we thought it was a market we should at least try and get involved in. But as we've become more and more involved in 3D printing and seen greater potential not only for the engineering sector but other markets, we really do believe it is the next highest point in technology.
"I mean, they say it's the next industrial revolution and with machines like the Stratasys Idea Series we can definitely see that. If customers want professional concept models really fast, then the Idea Series is the technology they need to invest in. Engineers might be more interested in Stratasys machines and product designers might work better with a BEETHEFIRST and that's also ideal for education."
Hawksworth singled BEETHEFIRST out as a "high-performance, user-friendly" 3D printer that is ideal for schoolchildren and students to quickly learn how to use 3D printing technology and experience having their own designs become real, tangible objects - something Hawk3DProto will encourage and facilitate at its highly-anticipated showroom.
"We are excited about the future for Hawk3DProto and we want to get as many people through our door as we can to see our new 3D printing showroom once it is completed," Hawksworth stated.
You can follow Hawk3DProto on Twitter @HAWK3DPROTO.
