3D Systems’ Founder Chuck Hull Nominated By European Patent Office for 2014 Award

ROCK HILL, South Carolina –May 15, 2014 – 3D Systems  (NYSE:DDD) today announced that Chuck Hull, the inventor of 3D printing and founder of 3D Systems, has been nominated by the European Patent Office (EPO) for the 2014 European Inventor Award. As an American citizen, Hull is being recognized within the Non-European category as “an outstanding inventor working outside of Europe who has been granted a European patent.” Prolific in his work, Hull holds 76 US patents, and has an additional 18 European patents and 14 Japanese patents.

Hull is being recognized by the EPO for his groundbreaking invention of the original 3D printing technology, Stereolithography (SLA^®). Hull also co-created the STL file format, which continues to be the gold standard in ultra high-definition 3D printing connectivity with all CAD formats. Today, SLA technology is used to print everything from personalized, in-ear hearing aids and professional music devices to automotive parts for design-to-manufacturing. In 1983, Hull 3D printed a small cup, the first-ever object created with additive technology. The success of Hull’s process served as a catalyst to his founding of 3D Systems in 1986.

The European Inventor Awards includes people’s choice award by popular vote. Please support Chuck by voting for him at the EPO website (www.epo.org/vote) or via the EPO’s Facebook page (http://bit.ly/PopularPrizeAPP). Voting is open now through June 10, 2014, at midnight CET.

Hull continues to lead the 3D printing revolution as 3D Systems’ Chief Technology Officer, celebrating 30 years of continuous 3D printing innovation and presiding over seven different 3D print technologies, more than 100 materials and 1,700 patents.

On May 21, 2014 Hull will be inducted into the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame in partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for his globally impactful and transformative work inventing and pioneering 3D printing. With this induction, Hull joins the ranks of formerly honored inventors, including Eli Whitney, Thomas Edison, Orville and Wilbur Wright, Henry Ford, and George Eastman, as well as Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. He also received The Economist’s prestigious 2013 Innovation Award, recognizing significant contributions across eight fields of science, technology, and society.  

“I am deeply honored to be considered by the EPO among the other high caliber innovators who have transformed the world and improved the human condition in tangible and powerful ways,” said Chuck Hull, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, 3DS. “I always knew that 3D printing had the capacity to change the entire design-to-manufacturing process, but could not have anticipated the full impact that my work would have on every facet of our lives. It is incredibly humbling and exhilarating to be a part of this transformation.”

Learn more about 3D Systems’ commitment to manufacturing the future today at www.3dsystems.com.

About 3D Systems

3D Systems is a leading provider of 3D printing centric design-to-manufacturing solutions including 3D printers, print materials and cloud sourced on-demand custom parts for professionals and consumers alike in materials including plastics, metals, ceramics and edibles. The company also provides integrated 3D scan-based design, freeform modeling and inspection tools and an integrated 3D planning and printing digital thread for personalized surgery and patient specific medical devices. Its products and services replace and complement traditional methods and reduce the time and cost of designing new products by printing real parts directly from digital input. These solutions are used to rapidly design, create, communicate, prototype or produce functional parts and assemblies, empowering customers to manufacture the future.

Leadership Through Innovation and Technology

• 3DS invented 3D printing with its Stereolithography (SLA) printer and was the first to commercialize it in 1989.
• 3DS invented Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) printing and was the first to commercialize it in 1992.
• 3DS invented the Color-Jet-Printing (CJP) class of 3D printers and was the first to commercialize 3D powder-based systems in 1994.
• 3DS invented Multi-Jet-Printing (MJP) printers and was the first to commercialize it in 1996.

Today its comprehensive range of 3D printers is the industry’s benchmark for production-grade manufacturing in aerospace, automotive, personalized surgery, medical devices and a variety of consumer, electronic and fashion accessories.

More information on the company is available at www.3DSystems.com.