BMW i Ventures Invests in Desktop Metal, a Metal 3D Printing Startup

[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW i Ventures Invests in Desktop Metal, a Metal 3D Printing Startup

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Mountain View – February 6, 2017… BMW i Ventures has announced a strategic investment in Desktop Metal, an emerging startup with the mission to bring metal 3D printing within reach of all design and manufacturing teams.

Desktop Metal is committed to accelerating the adoption of metal 3D printing in manufacturing through the creation of innovative technology that produces complex parts. They are doing this with a world-class team of experts in the fields of materials science, engineering and software, consisting of 75 engineers.

"Just as plastic has redefined rapid prototyping, metal 3D printing will make a profound impact on the way companies manufacture rapid prototypes and mass produce parts across all major industries,” said Ric Fulop, CEO and co-founder of Desktop Metal. “We are fortunate to have the backing of a leading group of strategic investors who support both our vision and our technology, and who are pivotal in propelling our company forward as we prepare for our product introduction in 2017.”

“Advances in metal 3D printing are driving innovation across a wide range of automotive applications and we are excited to work with Desktop Metal as part of our vision in adopting additive manufacturing at BMW,” said Uwe Higgen, Managing Partner of BMW i Ventures. “From rapid prototyping and printing exceptional quality parts for end-use production, to freedom of design and mass customization, Desktop Metal is shaping the way cars will be imaged, designed and manufactured.”

About BMW i Ventures

Mountain View-based BMW i Ventures, a corporate venture capital team founded by BMW Group in 2011, provides equity financing to high-potential start-ups and high-growth companies dedicated to shape the future of global mobility. As a strategic investor, i Ventures aims to build strong partnerships with young start-ups with a high potential of making urban mobility smarter, more efficient and more flexible. Collaboration projects intend to create sustainable business value on both sides. Portfolio companies benefit from BMW i Ventures’ long-term experience, strong reach and the broad network of a well-established brand. Through its previous investments in the fields of e-mobility, navigation, parking, car sharing and intermodality, BMW i Ventures has already entered into strategic partnerships with innovative providers such as Carbon3D, Nauto, Scoop, Stratim, Chargepoint, Life360, Moovit, JustPark, Chargemaster and Zendrive.

About Desktop Metal

Desktop Metal, based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is committed to bringing metal additive manufacturing to engineering and design teams the world over. The company’s growing team of hardware and software engineers, materials scientists, and designers is addressing the unmet challenges of speed, cost, quality and convenience to make metal 3D printing an essential tool for innovation. For more information, visit www.desktopmetal.com.www.bmwiventures.com

[raysspl]

Good stuff. I'm a fan of 3D printing

[conradb]

I hope they can bring metal sintering printing to the sub-$2,000 consumer market.

[bd307]

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

BMW's i Ventures division has invested in Desktop Metal, a Massachusetts-based company that specializes in 3D metal printing.

The startup aims to "bring metal 3D printing within reach of all design and manufacturing teams." Achieving the goal will presumably require a more affordable machine capable of producing complex mass-produced parts at costs competitive with traditional manufacturing methods.

The 3D printing industry has experienced significant growth in recent years, but most of the attention as focused on small rapid-prototyping machines that allow businesses or hobbyists to create items from plastic extrusions.

Some industries have already been using additive manufacturing to produce metal parts for decades. High costs have limited the technology to expensive low-volume components, however, such as the titanium exhaust outlet on a Koenigsegg One:1, parts for General Electric turbines, or engine chambers and valve bodies for SpaceX rocket engines.

"Compared with a traditionally cast part, a printed valve body has superior strength, ductility, and fracture resistance, with a lower variability in materials properties," SpaceX wrote in a 2014 announcement. "The (main oxidizer valve) body was printed in less than two days, compared with a typical castings cycle measured in months."

BMW plans to work with Desktop Metal to explore potential automotive applications for 3D printing. With backing from Lowes, Google Ventures and other venture capital firms, the startup hopes to launch its first product later this year.

Read more: http://www.leftlanenews.com/bmw-inve...#ixzz4Y1EVlzSK