Formlabs rolls out 3D printers in Korea
Formlabs, a U.S.-based maker of 3D printers, released new products here to capitalize on the country’s growing 3D printing market, the company said Tuesday.
David Tan, general manager of the Asia-Pacific and Japan region for the company, said Formlabs decided to officially release its machines here as Korea is one of the world’s manufacturing powerhouses.
“Why we think the Asia-Pacific market is so important for us is the region has three of the top five leading countries — China, Japan and Korea — in manufacturing output worldwide,” Tan said during a press conference in Seoul.
“Countries in this region contribute to 40 percent of global manufacturing output and Korea is especially important for us because the country has excellent product design capability. With our cost-effective and high-quality 3D printers, we want to help product designers in Korea produce their products accurately and much faster.”
Based in Somerville, Massachusetts,
the company was established in 2011 by four founders working at MIT’s Media Lab. Since its foundation, the manufacturer has sold more than 50,000 3D printers.
The company sells the Form 2, a 3D printer based on its cutting-edge stereolithography (SLA). The SLA technology uses a laser to produce solid parts from a liquid photopolymer resin.
The general manager said the company also plans to launch Form 3 and Form 3L, which use low-force stereolithography (LFS) technology, an advanced version of SLA technology. The Form 3L, a larger version of the Form 3, can be applied in a wide range of industrial sectors, he added.