An Exeter-based 3D printing specialist is looking to break into the US market after signing a new reseller agreement with an additive manufacturing specialist in the States.
Rapid Fusion, which employs 10 people at its state-of-the-art Skypark demonstration centre in Devon, has joined forces with Phoenix Analysis and Design Technologies (PADT) to sell its robotic additive manufacturing systems to customers in the aerospace and defence sectors.
Bosses at the technology firm believe there are almost £2m worth of opportunities to be enjoyed in the first year across the western half of the US.
The company will initially target PADT’s existing client base, whilst leveraging the US firm’s technical knowledge and manufacturing networks, it said.
Jake Hand, managing director at Rapid Fusion, said: “We have had significant success disrupting the large format additive manufacturing (LAFM) arena in the Ƶ and Europe, and felt it was time to push into the United States – a sector that is the biggest in the world for our technology.
“We needed to find the right partner who not only understood our values and our products but also had immediate access to clients who would benefit from our solutions. Initial conversations with PADT founder Rey Chu got us really excited, and we’re delighted to sign the deal that makes the company our first US reseller."
PADT will have access to Rapid Fusion's full portfolio, including Apollo (a full turnkey 3D robotic printer); Zeus (a 3D printing robot that incorporates a CNC milling capability); and Medusa, a hybrid system combining pellet and filament 3D printing with CNC milling.
PADT has already committed to recruiting and training a dedicated Rapid Fusion sales specialist, with the longer-term plan being to host several of the firm’s robots at its headquarters at Arizona State University Research Park in Tempe.
“Rapid Fusion’s pellet extrusion and robotic arm-based 3D printing systems offer a complementary and disruptive alternative to our current additive manufacturing offerings, enabling new applications in aerospace, construction, motor vehicles, and tooling,” added Rey Chu, a PADT Principal and 3D printing pioneer at Phoenix Analysis and Design Technologies.
“With a 100,000-strong marketplace on the West coast alone there is so much potential to disrupt the US marketplace, and we are looking forward to accelerating the Ƶ firm’s presence here."
Rapid Fusion has also recently launched a new AI ‘print assistant’ that it says will help enhance the performance of its ground-breaking robotic additive manufacturing systems.
After eight months of coding, troubleshooting and live tests, ‘Bob (Base of Build)’ is now being rolled out to existing clients, the company added.
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