Stratasys Launches Evolve Additive Solutions
The spin-off company will focus on a 3D printing technology known as Selective Thermoplastic Electrophotographic Process (STEP).
Stratasys has unveiled the spin-off of its Selective Thermoplastic Electrophotographic Process (STEP) technology and forming of Evolve Additive Solutions. After nearly 10 years as an incubation project, the new organization will be led by a dedicated management team, focused on bringing the proprietary STEP technology to market.
Built on Stratasys’ pioneering development and 3D printing and additive manufacturing expertise, Evolve’s STEP technology is aimed at producing parts at a cost, quality and throughput comparable to traditional manufacturing processes and faster than other commercially available additive processes. The solution is intended for high-volume production runs into the hundreds of thousands per year. It is expected to compete with traditional processes, such as injection molding.
“As an independent company, Evolve will best be able to focus on the advancement of the technology, provide the entrepreneurial environment and management equity incentives suitable for early stage efforts and drive the customer relationships and partnerships to foster further development and initial market adoption,” says Ilan Levin, Stratasys CEO. “As an equity stakeholder, we look forward to collaborating with Evolve and supporting this initiative to help make it a success.”
Designed for Industry 4.0, automated manufacturing and factory-floor integration, STEP is compatible with production-grade thermoplastics and volume production applications across multiple industries, including consumer, automotive, industrial and medical. The highly scalable and extensible solution combines Evolve’s proprietary technology with electrophotographic imaging.
“We are excited to introduce Evolve Additive Solutions and proprietary STEP technology,” says Steve Chillscyzn, CEO of Evolve Additive Solutions and co-inventor of STEP. “We believe the STEP technology is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap in the market not yet addressed by additive or traditional manufacturing technologies.”
The STEP process combines 2D imaging with Evolve technology to precisely align incoming layers. Sophisticated bonding techniques create final parts that are fully dense with isotropic properties in the X, Y and Z directions comparable with injection molding, the company says. Multiple material printing is possible within the same layer, and full-color printing capability is also offered.
Evolve has begun seeking initial purchase orders during its alpha stage and, over the next 12 months, plans to engage new customers to evaluate beta systems for volume production applications in a range of markets. The date of expected general availability of its products has not yet been announced.
