3D printing company EnvisionTEC GmbH has sold a Viridis3D RAM System to German casting company Giesserei Blöcher GmbH, marking the first Viridis3D RAM printer sold in Europe. The Viridis3D RAM System is a binder jetting system developed by industrial AM company Viridis3D, which has an exclusive strategic partnership with EnvisionTEC.
Viridis3D first showcased its novel binder jetting process in 2016, targeting foundry applications. The proprietary technology, which includes Viriprint software, is capable of of printing sand molds, mold cores and investment casting patterns in just hours.
This week, Giesserei Blöcher GmbH has become the first foundry outside of the United States to purchase a Viridis3D RAM system from EnvisionTEC, which will be installed this August. Moving forward, EnvisionTEC plans to increasingly market to the European foundry industry.
“Our investment in the EnvisionTEC Viridis3D RAM system will bring benefits, both for the foundry and our customers,” commented Giesserei Blöcher owner, Jürgen Blöcher. “The Viridis3D RAM will dramatically improve turnaround within the foundry, improving both speed and reduce costs going forward. These are benefits which we will ultimately be able to pass on to our customers. We are looking forward to the installation.”
Sobhi Aris, Managing Director of EnvisionTEC, added: “Thank you to Jürgen Blöcher for both his and the team’s trust in the product. We are looking forward to working closely with Giesserei Blöcher GmbH to maximize the benefits they receive from the use of the Viridis3D RAM system. These are exciting times for EnvisionTEC and the advancement of the Viridis3D RAM system in Europe. The system is truly ground-breaking, bringing increased speed and reduced costs to foundries. We hope this is just a first step in the adoption of the technology across Europe and APAC.”
Veridis3D’s Robotic Additive Manufacturing (RAM) systems utilize a proprietary print head technology which is attached to an ABB robotic arm. The robotic arm, powered by the Viriprint software, deposits sand-based materials at rapid speeds, building up large-scale sand molds, mold cores and investment casting patterns for the foundry industry. The RAM systems come in a number of configurations, including the RAM 123 with a build volume of up to 1 x 2 x 3 feet, the RAM 224 with a build capacity of up to 2 x 2 x 4 feet, RAM 236 (2 x 3 x 6 feet) and RAM 336 (3 x 3 x 6 feet).
The Viridis3D binder jet systems are also noteworthy for using less sand material than other sand casting 3D printers, lowering the cost of producing sand molds. According to EnvisionTEC, the technology can cost as little as one-third of the cost of competing systems.
