Desktop Metal Qualifies Sterling Silver on the Production System, Cementing Additive Manufacturing Leadership in Jewelry Industry

Download as PDF
  • Desktop Metal now offers comprehensive solutions for jewelry and luxury goods manufacturers, from 3D printed models for lost-wax casting to direct 3D printing of precious metals
  • Sterling silver is qualified and fully characterized on both the Production System P-1 and P-50, with qualification of 18K yellow gold fast-tracked for 2022 in partnership with experienced luxury goods manufacturers
  • Strategic partnerships with industry innovators Christian Tse of Formula 3D Corporation in the U.S. and Neoshapes for the international market to advance precious metals powder supply chain as well as design and printing services
  • Desktop Metal to showcase sterling silver jewelry designed by Christian Tse and printed on the Production System P-1 at the upcoming 2022 JCK Show in Las Vegas

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Desktop Metal (NYSE: DM) today announced that 925 sterling silver, a popular precious metal, is now qualified for 3D printing on the Production System™ platform, including both the P-1 and P-50, offering jewelry and luxury goods manufacturers the fastest way to directly 3D print high-quality jewelry, watches, belt buckles, and decorative hardware for handbags.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220606005677/en/

Exquisite sterling silver chevron stacking rings designed by Christian Tse and 3D printed on the Desktop Metal Production System P-1. The Production System now offers jewelry and luxury goods manufacturers the fastest way to directly 3D print high-quality sterling silver jewelry, watches, belt buckles, and decorative hardware for handbags. (Photo: Business Wire)

Exquisite sterling silver chevron stacking rings designed by Christian Tse and 3D printed on the Desktop Metal Production System P-1. The Production System now offers jewelry and luxury goods manufacturers the fastest way to directly 3D print high-quality sterling silver jewelry, watches, belt buckles, and decorative hardware for handbags. (Photo: Business Wire)

Desktop Metal is also fast-tracking the development of additional precious metal alloys in 2022, including 18K yellow gold, with active research and development underway on rose gold. Desktop Metal and its ETEC polymer brand have a longtime history of partnering with major jewelry producers around the world such as Cartier, Stuller, Shinola and Swarovski.

“The qualification of precious metals for direct 3D printing on high-speed binder jetting systems is a major milestone for the jewelry and luxury goods industry,” said Ric Fulop, Founder and CEO of Desktop Metal. “All the design freedom and customization of 3D printing can now be delivered directly at high volumes without all of the labor associated with traditional manufacturing processes. What’s more, this new direct 3D printing innovation builds on the established legacy of our ETEC brand, which has been a leader in 3D printers for lost-wax casting models for more than a decade — making us the unparalleled leader in comprehensive additive manufacturing solutions for the jewelry and luxury goods market.”

Partnerships to Advance Technology and Materials Development

To advance the technology and materials needed to bring world-class 3D printing quality, productivity, and economics to the demanding luxury goods and jewelry market, Desktop Metal is partnering with two leaders in precious metals powder and parts production: Formula 3D Corporation founded by Christian Tse of Christian Tse Designs & Manufacturing Inc. for the U.S. market, and Neoshapes for international clientele. Both of these collaborations aim to enable the luxury goods and jewelry markets to adopt metal binder jetting processes to produce end-use parts in precious metals, steels, and more.

Formula 3D Corporation offers designers and manufacturers a complete end-to-end solution for 3D printing precious metals — from the design to beautiful, customer-ready finished quality jewelry. A new video released with Christian Tse showcases how this Monrovia, California-based luxury design and manufacturing house is using the Desktop Metal Production System P-1 to reimagine its jewelry manufacturing.

“Desktop Metal’s Production System adds extraordinary value to our existing jewelry manufacturing processes, increasing efficiency of production, getting new designs to market faster, and offering our customers greater versatility and multiple styling options. We can actually print in precious metals in two hours what we do in two days with casting,” said Christian Tse. “In addition, creating jewelry with binder jetting is allowing us to consider new options to circumvent some of the supply chain challenges facing the fine jewelry industry. We can bypass shipping delays and mounting costs, as well as avoid duties, by printing the precious silver directly, as opposed to shipping the physical metal.”

Neoshapes, a Swiss company based in Geneva, Switzerland, founded by experienced executives in the luxury goods industry, takes a unique end-to-end approach — from the production and supply of powder, to the printing and post-processing of precious metals components, as well as consultancy services to enable industry players to easily transition their production processes to binder jet technology.

“Binder jetting opens up new perspectives for the luxury industry, even more now with the qualification of precious metal alloys, giving further leverage to develop and produce creative products from a single file, leaping forward into the digital supply chain. The time to market for new creative products is also reduced considerably, allowing brands to better meet demand while maintaining minimal inventories,” said Stéphane Vigié, Neoshapes co-founder.

Binder Jetting Ushers in a New Era for Jewelry Manufacturing

The Production System’s Single Pass Jetting™ (SPJ) technology, which delivers high-speed 3D printing of metals, enables jewelers to adopt an entirely digital and agile manufacturing workflow. Jewelers can have greater design flexibility and control, allowing designers and manufacturers to scale new designs previously impossible or difficult to produce without significant manual labor — such as chain link bracelets or necklaces, where the links can be 3D printed in place as one piece instead of being manually assembled one link at a time. In addition, jewelers can leverage AM for localized production, decreasing the reliance on long lead-time global supply chains and offering opportunities for onshoring manufacturing.

The benefits of additive manufacturing for luxury goods and jewelry applications are significant:

- Customization and Design Freedom at High Volumes
Up to tens of thousands of jewelry pieces per day can be 3D printed on the Production System, and manufacturers can produce the same pieces or customized, unique ones — all in a single build.

- Digital Inventory Offers Greater Production Flexibility
By eliminating time-intensive techniques like casting, manufacturers can iterate and scale new designs easily — once a design is finalized, printing and production can begin immediately. Manufacturers can also establish digital inventories, storing design files digitally to be made on demand, reducing working capital requirements.

- Significant Reduction in Waste Material through Recycling and Reuse
With the Production System, substantially all of the loose powder recovered during the printing and depowdering process can be recycled and reused for subsequent prints, driving further cost efficiencies and reducing material waste.

World’s Fastest Way to 3D Print Sterling Silver Jewelry on Display at JCK Show

Exquisite jewelry designs from Christian Tse printed in sterling silver on the Production System will be on display June 10-13 in Las Vegas at the 2022 JCK Show, a leading jewelry event in North America, at stand #52025. In addition, Desktop Metal will exhibit affordable solutions for jewelry casting, including the ETEC D4K printer, a high-resolution professional-grade desktop 3D printer, suitable for end-use applications, dental, and jewelry.

To learn more about the Production System and printing in precious metals, visit: www.desktopmetal.com/production.

About Desktop Metal

Desktop Metal, Inc., based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is accelerating the transformation of manufacturing with an expansive portfolio of 3D printing solutions, from rapid prototyping to mass production. Founded in 2015 by leaders in advanced manufacturing, metallurgy, and robotics, the company is addressing the unmet challenges of speed, cost, and quality to make additive manufacturing an essential tool for engineers and manufacturers around the world. Desktop Metal was selected as one of the world’s 30 most promising Technology Pioneers by the World Economic Forum, named to MIT Technology Review’s list of 50 Smartest Companies, and the 2021 winner of Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Award in materials and Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech Award for sustainability. For more information, visit www.desktopmetal.com.

About Formula 3D Corporation

Founded in 2019 by Christian Tse, Formula 3D Corporation is an additive manufacturing company focused on precious metals, supplying 3D printing products and solutions for the fine jewelry, dental, medical, and space travel industries. Based in Monrovia, CA, Formula 3D aims to revolutionize the US manufacturing industry by providing access to a full ecosystem of 3D precious metal manufacturing services and products, including atomized powders, 3D printing, touchless finishing, and metal alloys. www.formula3Dcorp.com.

About Neoshapes®

With extensive experience in Additive Manufacturing to serve the luxury industry, Neoshapes is the first integrated specialist dedicated to 3D printing for the global luxury goods sector. With a strong focus on precious metals, Neoshapes proposes a full range of turnkey solutions that ensure increased efficiency and superior quality excellence for its Partner Brands. Neoshapes was established to respond to the ever-evolving needs of the luxury industry, specifically a more personalized connection to consumers with services such as production-on-demand, limited editions, customization, and special orders – growing trends that currently are not well served by traditional manufacturing methods. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, Neoshapes is fully committed to luxury goods 3D printing with core competencies in precious metals, from traceability of materials, through to alloying, powdering, printing, finishing, and traceability of finished products, all under one roof.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks, uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this document, including but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties set forth in Desktop Metal, Inc.'s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Desktop Metal, Inc. assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Media Relations:
Desktop Metal Contact
Lynda McKinney
lyndamckinney@desktopmetal.com
(978) 224-1282

Christian Tse Contact
Duvall O’Steen
duvall@luxbrandgroup.com
(917) 363-3724

Neoshapes Contact
Gautier Mougel
gautier.mougel@Neoshapes.com
+41 76 817 85 45

Investor Relations:
Jay Gentzkow
jaygentzkow@desktopmetal.com
(781) 730-2110

Source: Desktop Metal

Released June 6, 2022