Objet Selected as 3D Printing Partner for Social Product Development Firm


Connex will bring web community ideas to life at Quirky

Rehovot, Israel - Objet Geometries, the innovation leader in 3D printing, today announced that the leading social product development company Quirky has acquired one of the world's most robust 3D printers: Objet's Connex350(TM). The system will serve a vital role at Quirky, which brings one new product from sketch to store each week through its online collaborative platform. Quirky's product development process encompasses every step - from naming and logo creation to industrial design - and relies heavily on accurate, quality prototypes to conceive, improve and finalize designs for potential manufacture.

The Objet system, roughly the size of a copy machine, was delivered by crane on May 10th, closing down a stretch of Broadway in New York City.

"We cannot overstate the impact this stellar machine will have on our business," said Ben Kaufman, CEO and Founder of Quirky.com. "Our mission is to bring awesome products to consumers and earnings to our community in record time. Our new Connex350 will make this all happen even faster."

Kaufman adds that since its launch in June 2009, Quirky has brought 13 products to market - a feat once considered impossible. "Now with the Connex350, there is no telling what we can do," he says. "Bring it on."

Launched in 2009, the Connex350 is one of the only 3D printers in the world capable of printing several materials with different mechanical and physical properties simultaneously. The other system offering these capabilities is Objet's Connex500(TM), unveiled in 2007. The printers' patented PolyJet Matrix(TM) technology jets materials in ultra-thin layers, immediately curing each layer with UV light - a process which yields models that closely emulate the look, feel and function of an exceptionally wide variety of end products. In addition, the systems allow users to create composite materials that have pre-set combinations of mechanical properties, also a first for the industry. This offers unprecedented material options for 3D printed models.
"We are thrilled to be partnering with such an innovative organization that, like Objet, is changing the way goods are brought to market," said Gilad Gans, Executive Vice President of Objet Geometries. "This venture demonstrates how 3D printing is moving beyond the Fortune 500 list, becoming of greater relevance to mid and small businesses, and everyday consumers."

About Objet Geometries

Objet Geometries Ltd., (objet.com), a pioneer in photopolymer jetting, develops, manufactures and globally markets ultra-thin-layer, high-resolution 3-Dimensional printing systems and materials that utilize PolyJet(TM) and PolyJet Matrix(TM) polymer jetting technologies to print ultra-thin layers.

The market-proven Eden(TM) line of 3D Printing Systems and the Alaris30 3D Printer are based on Objet's patented office-friendly PolyJet Technology. The Connex family is based on Objet's PolyJet Matrix(TM) technology, which jets multiple model materials simultaneously and creates composite Digital Materials(TM) on the fly. All Objet systems use Objet's FullCure® materials to create accurate, clean, smooth and highly detailed 3-dimensional models.

Objet's solutions enable manufacturers and industrial designers to reduce cost of product development cycles and dramatically shorten time-to-market of new products. Objet systems are in use by world leaders in many industries, such as Education, Medical / Medical Devices & Dental, Consumer Electronics, Automotive, toys, consumer goods, and footwear industries in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Japan.

Founded in 1998, Objet serves its growing worldwide customer base through offices in USA, Mexico, Europe, Japan, China and Hong Kong, and a global network of distribution partners. Objet owns more than 50 patents and patent pending inventions.

Follow Objet Geometries on Twitter: twitter.com/3d_printers.

About Quirky

Quirky is a social product development company founded in June 2009. Each week, Quirky engages its online community of more than 20,000 individuals from around the world to collaborate in every aspect of a product's creation -- from ideation, design, naming and marketing, right on through to sales. Anyone can participate in this process either by submitting their own ideas, or by evaluating and contributing to others' ideas. The final product becomes available for pre-sale in Quirky's online store (quirky.com/products ) and if it reaches a certain sales threshold, it goes into production and becomes available worldwide. Quirky then shares its product-based revenue with all the community members that positively influenced the product.

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