Wilfried Vancraen accepts RTAM Industry Achievement Award.
Press Release Summary:
Wilfried "Fried" Vancrean, managing director at Materialise in Belgium, accepted RTAM Industry Achievement Award, which recognizes manufacturing professionals who have made exceptional contributions and accomplishments in any industry through application of additive manufacturing technologies. In 1990, Vancrean founded Materialise NV, one of the first rapid prototyping service bureaus in Europe, and in 2010, he launched i.materialise website, making 3D printing accessible to everyone.
Original Press Release:
Wilfried Vancraen Accepts RTAM Industry Achievement Award
The Additive Manufacturing Branding Initiative (AMBI) Among Many Accomplishments
DEARBORN, Mich., - Wilfried "Fried" Vancrean, managing director at Materialise in Belgium, accepted the RTAM Industry Achievement Award for 2011 at this year's Society of Manufacturing Engineers' (SME) RAPID Conference and Exposition earlier this year.
The Industry Achievement Award, which is sponsored by SME's Rapid Technologies & Additive Manufacturing Community, recognizes manufacturing professionals who have made exceptional contributions and accomplishments in the additive manufacturing industry or in any industry through the application of additive manufacturing technologies. Nominees are chosen based on a multitude of different criteria including, but not limited to, a single outstanding accomplishment, technical publication, patent or a specific industry application.
Vancrean's involvement in the additive manufacturing industry has been illustrious and has spanned decades. In 1990, he founded Materialise NV, one of the first rapid prototyping service bureaus in Europe, and developer of the revolutionary Magics software. In 2010, he would launch the i.materialise website, making 3D printing accessible to everyone regardless of experience with design packages. At the RAPID show in May 2010, Vancraen hosted the first "CEO Summit" of industry leaders which would later evolve into what is now known as the Additive Manufacturing Branding Initiative (AMBI).
"The RTAM Committee was pleased to review many outstanding candidates for this year's Industry Achievement Award," says David K. Leigh, vice chair of SME's RTAM Community. "This year's winner has given so many contributions to the RTAM community, and many are industry firsts. We are pleased to see that this community and, in particular, Fried Vancraen, continue to push the envelope of advanced manufacturing techniques."
For further information about the RTAM Industry Achievement Award or to learn more about the RTAM Community, visit sme.org/rtam.
About SME:
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) is the premier source for manufacturing knowledge, education and networking. Through its many programs, events, magazines, publications and online training division, Tooling U, SME connects manufacturing practitioners to each other, to the latest technologies and to the most up-to-date manufacturing processes. SME has members around the world and is supported by a network of chapters and technical communities. A 501(c)3 organization, SME is a leader in manufacturing workforce development issues, working with industry, academic and government partners to support the current and future skilled workforce.
