FIrstBuild micro factory.
Stratasys has announced a partnership with GE affiliate, FirstBuild to enable engineers, designers, scientists and home enthusiasts to participate in the next evolution of GE appliances and accessories.
With an open innovation approach to engineering, FirstBuild is using Stratasys’ latest 3D printing technology to turn concepts into prototypes through a combination of co-creation and micro-manufacturing.
GE Appliances, subsidiary of General Electric, established FirstBuild with Local Motors who recently built and drove the world's first fully 3D printed car, to allow the rapid production of concepts to the marketplace. The idea is; individuals design and submit ideas and then a community of enthusiasts, designers, engineers and makers test the ideas and create products with Stratasys 3D printing technology. FirstBuild then manufactures and delivers the appliances to customers.
"We believe that the prospects of tapping into the hardware innovation scene are very promising," says Gilad Gans, President of Stratasys North America. "This is an outstanding opportunity to help revolutionize the way things are made. This is an open-innovation environment where FirstBuild users will be able to use our cutting-edge technology to accelerate product development phases and create real products."
Local Motors CEO Jay Rogers at the FirstBuild grand opening.
The FirstBuild micro-factory in Louisville, Kentucky will house a range of Stratasys 3D printers where products can be made and then sold through FirstBuild’s website and other retail routes.
"Incorporating Stratasys' leading additive manufacturing technology into our micro-factory capabilities provides an enormous benefit in both product development and production by saving us time, money and resources," said Natarajan "Venkat" Venkatakrishnan, Director of FirstBuild and Director of Advanced Technologies for GE Appliances. "It will also give the University of Louisville engineering students and others who work on this equipment at FirstBuild a significant advantage as they pursue jobs in technical fields."
