Overview of Stratasys
Stratasys Inc. is synonymous with manufacturing of 3D printing equipment and materials that create physical objects directly from digital data. The company was incorporated in 1989 at Eden Prairie, Minnesota and went public in 1994. Stratasys manufactures 3D printers that produce physical samples from CAD using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology, for which the company has a patent. The Stratasys range comprises desktop 3D printers to large, advanced 3D production systems. It is popular for making 3D printing more accessible than ever - in countries like U.S., India and others. Because they are affordable, Stratasys 3D printers are popular with manufacturers and educational institutes alike.
History of Stratasys
Stratasys was founded in Connecticut by the husband and wife team of S. Scott Crump and Lisa H. Crump. An entrepreneur and an innovator from his childhood, Crump studied Mechanical engineering at Washington State University. In 1982, he moved to Minneapolis to help found IDEA, Inc. This company was into manufacturing of transducers. Looking at his innovative spirit, his wife persuaded him to start their own venture. Stratasys was founded in 1988 and in 1989, Crump patented the FDM technology. He used this technology to manufacture 3D printers. Since the technology was new, the earlier 3D printers were expensive (costing in excess of $100,000) and found buyers in corporate clients like GM and 3M.
Encouraged by the earlier success, Stratasys went public in October 1994, selling 1.38 million shares at a price of $5 per share. The company utilized these funds to expand its capabilities and also increase its distribution network.
Stratasys Today…
In 1996, Stratasys introduced Genisys, a 3D printer priced around $50,000. Barring a few hiccups mainly due to global slump, Stratasys has seen an encouraging growth in sales and the number of 3D printers sold. Today, all the3D printers offered by Stratasys rely on either of the following two technologies:
FDM – known for reliability and durable parts, or
PolyJet - known for its smooth, detailed surfaces and ability to combine multiple materials in one part
Stratasys Inc. maintains dual headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minnesota and Rehovot, Israel, and holds almost 500 granted or pending additive manufacturing patents worldwide.
DesignTech (India) and Stratasys
DesignTech is an authorized distributor of Stratasys in India for its following range of products:
With the economy opening up, India is proving to be a high potential market for Stratasys.