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3D Systems and Vantico Terminate Relationship
3D Systems Agrees to Acquire RPC Ltd.
Contacts:
3D Systems, Public Relations Department (3D Systems)
(661) 295-5600
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VALENCIA, Calif., Aug. 24, 2001 – 3D Systems Corp. (Nasdaq:
TDSC) today announced the severance of its distributor and joint development agreements with Vantico Inc., a subsidiary of Vantico International. 3D Systems has been the exclusive worldwide distributor (except for Japan) of Vantico liquid resins used in stereolithography systems.
Under the terms of the distributor agreement, 3D Systems will continue to distribute Vantico resins for a period of six months. After that period, the distribution agreement will no longer limit 3D Systems from sourcing and developing resins independently.
3D Systems’ termination of the joint development agreement with Vantico will prohibit the two companies from exploiting, for a period of three years, any proprietary information owned or developed by the other party. However, the parties dispute the meaning and impact of this provision, and, though conversations between the parties continue, arbitration proceedings have begun regarding this matter.
3D Systems believes a significant portion of the Vantico resins currently used in 3D Systems machines were developed and enhanced by 3D Systems and that its proprietary information is pervasive in a substantial portion of Vantico’s products currently being manufactured, as well as those under development. As a result, 3D Systems believes that Vantico would be prevented from separately marketing those products, unless the companies reach a subsequent agreement.
“These developments present a great opportunity for 3D Systems to further enhance the materials currently used in our systems while maintaining our existing base of materials recurring revenue,” said Brian K. Service, 3D Systems’ president and chief executive officer. “During this transition period and beyond, we expect to continue to provide quality materials to our customers and further position ourselves to be a much stronger supplier of materials in the future.”
“We will continue to be the exclusive distributor of Vantico materials for the next six months and may arrange with Vantico to continue to distribute its materials beyond that time,” Service added. “We believe that we will continue to be able to offer our customers a full range of materials that are either substitutable or offer improved speed, accuracy, surface finish and functionality. It is our goal to provide as smooth a transition to our customers as possible.”
3D Systems also announced it has signed a letter of intent to acquire Rapid Prototyping Chemicals
(RPC) Ltd. of Marly, Switzerland. RPC is an independent supplier of stereolithography resins.
“We are excited about adding RPC’s materials offerings to the 3D Systems family of solid imaging products,” said Grant
Flaharty, senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing for 3D Systems. “This proposed acquisition reflects our focus on materials versatility and our commitment to providing the best solid imaging solutions for our customers.”
“RPC offers a wide range of materials that have been well received in the market. Our intention is to continue this trend and further enhance the synergy of our systems and materials,” Flaharty said.
About 3D Systems
3D Systems provides solid imaging products and services that substantially reduce the time and cost required to design, test and manufacture products. The company’s systems utilize patented technologies that create physical objects from digital input.
3D Systems currently offers the ThermoJet® office printer and SLA® industrial systems, which include proprietary software and materials. Product pricing in the U.S. begins at $49,995 for the company’s entry-level printer and extends up to $799,000 for its feature-rich industrial SLA 7000 system. The company also licenses the 3D
Keltool® process, a complementary application that produces injection molding and die casting inserts from SLA system master patterns. In February 2001, 3D Systems announced it acquired
OptoForm, a French company that has developed direct composite manufacturing systems that use paste materials. In April 2001, the company announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement to purchase DTM Corp., and it expects to complete the merger this month.
Based in Valencia, Calif., 3D Systems was founded in 1986 and is recognized as a world technology leader in solid imaging. For additional information, visit the company’s website at www.3dsystems.com or phone 888/337-9786, ext. 788. For an investor packet, call the company’s shareholder communications service at 800/757?1799.
About DTM Corporation
DTM develops, manufactures and markets advanced rapid prototyping and manufacturing systems, including the
Sinterstation® 2500plus and Vanguard systems. A growing number of manufacturers and service bureaus worldwide use these systems to rapidly create 3-D prototypes, parts, molds, tooling and casting patterns.
All Sinterstation SLS® systems utilize a process called selective laser sintering to create 3-D objects from computer-aided design (CAD) data. The Sinterstation system creates the part in a matter of hours using a CO2 laser to fuse together layers of powdered plastic, metal or ceramic powders. The results are durable 3-D parts produced in a fraction of the time it would typically take using other traditional methods.
Among the companies currently using Sinterstation systems are manufacturers such as BMW, Boeing, Pitney Bowes, Rockwell International, Volvo Penta and others. In addition, numerous service bureaus throughout the world include Sinterstation systems in their offerings to companies with only an occasional need for rapidly produced functional prototypes and parts. Parts and prototypes made on Sinterstation systems also are used in non-industrial settings, such as science and medicine. For more information on DTM’s systems, customers and applications, visit the company’s website at www.dtm-corp.com.
About RPC
Based in Marly, Switzerland, RPC develops and distributes a complete range of materials used in SLA solid imaging systems. Since its founding in 1997, the company’s R&D efforts have concentrated on thermosetting and photopolymer materials as well as laser technology. The company has introduced 13 resins for all three laser configurations on the SLA machines and anticipates 7% to 10% market growth this year for its materials.
Note to editors: ThermoJet, SLA, Keltool and the 3D logo are registered trademarks of 3D Systems. Sinterstation and SLS are registered trademarks, and DuraForm and Vanguard are trademarks, of DTM Corporation.
Certain statements in this news release may include forward-looking statements which express the expectation, prediction, belief or projection of 3D Systems. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance and achievement of 3D Systems to be materially and adversely different from any future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements contained in this release and that may affect the company’s prospects in general include, but are not limited to: the funding of amounts of capital adequate to provide for the working capital needs of the company; actions of competitors and customers; reliance on single or limited suppliers, the ability to timely and cost-effectively identify and obtain or independently develop resins adequate for use with 3D Systems’ products, the negotiation and execution of definitive documents to acquire
RPC, the efficient integration of DTM into the business of 3D Systems, and such other factors as are described in the companies’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including annual reports on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2000, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31 and June 30, 2001, and 3D Systems’ current reports on Form 8-K filed on April 6 and April 10, 2001.
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