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HP MJF 4210 @ formnext 17
HP's 4210 Multi Jet Fusion production system.
Stephen Nigro, HP’s Head of 3D Printing, is set to retire in early 2019 the company’s CEO, Dion Weisler has said.
The vacant position will be filled by Christoph Schell, who currently holds the position of President of the America’s region for HP Inc. He will take over 3D printing responsibilities on November 1st, 2018, as the company aims to further scale the business.
Nigro has been with HP for nearly four decades, and was the figurehead for the company’s move into the 3D printing sector as it set its sights on punctuating the wider manufacturing market, which is said to be worth $12T.
Having launched its first Multi Jet Fusion machine in 2016, years after it outlined its intentions to enter the additive manufacturing space, the company has expanded its portfolio with a follow up production system in the 4210 and a prototyping solution in the 300/ 500 multi-colour series. It also established a materials roadmap and has set up an Open Materials and Applications Lab, which houses dozens of collaborations with chemical specialists. Next on the company’s agenda, is a metal 3D printing system, more details of which are expected imminently.
Schell, meanwhile, has been with HP for 20 years, and will now oversee the HP 3D Printing business as it looks to realise its early potential.
HP has released this comment from CEO, Dion Weisler:
"After 37 years at HP, Stephen Nigro, President of our 3D Printing business has made the decision to retire in early 2019. During the past three decades, Stephen has had a tremendous career from pioneering our first Inkjet printers to leading teams across the U.S. and Asia to most recently, turning a nascent 3D printing opportunity into a business that has become the number one commercial-grade plastics 3D printing vendor less than two years after product launch.
"A differentiated 3D printing technology and leadership will help enable HP to accelerate the Fourth Industrial Revolution. I couldn’t be more thankful for Steve’s leadership, guidance and commitment to HP.
"One of the things we pride ourselves on is the depth and breadth of our bench and our rigorous succession planning. I’m super excited that Christoph Schell, our current President of the Americas region will transition to become President of 3D Printing, where he and the team will focus on the next phase of scaling our 3D Printing business.
"We expect the transition to be seamless."
Schell also offered his thoughts via his LinkedIn profile: "I’m excited to share the news of my new role at HP - as of November 1 - as President of 3D Printing. I have a strong passion for additive manufacturing and 3D printing and consider it to be the most promising growth opportunity in HP’s storied history. This business is an incredible example of reinvention, and how we’re literally creating the future."
