02-17-2016: Stratasys invested in Massivit and its gigantic 3D printers
Masivit created GDP technology enabling super-fast large-format 3D printing
On February 17, 2016, Israeli company Massivit 3D Printing Technologies Ltd. announced that it had received funding from Stratasys. The funds were intended to support further development, promotion, and implementation of Gel Dispensing Printing (GDP), the company’s proprietary technology enabling super-fast large-format 3D printing.
Massivit specialized in producing large-scale 3D printers designed for the rapid production of oversized components, mainly for the advertising, exhibition, theme park, and retail industries. Its flagship product was the Massivit 1800 system, along with the Dimengel material, allowing for the creation of impressive, large objects in a short time.
The Massivit 1800 featured a build volume of 1.5 x 1.2 x 1.8 meters, totaling over 3 cubic meters of printing space. Anyone claiming that a 3D printer of this size is pointless will be brought back to reality by the fact that the Massivit is incredibly fast. According to the manufacturer, printing a life-size human model took no more than 5 hours.
Massivit is a unique company in the AM market, both due to its proprietary 3D printing technology and the size of its machines and printed parts as well as their applications. Unlike most AM hardware manufacturers, who focus primarily on industrial applications, Massivit targeted advertising and entertainment, becoming a key player in this niche.
Massivit developed a unique 3D printing technology called Gel Dispensing Printing (GDP), which utilizes special photopolymer gels. This material instantly cures under UV light, enabling the rapid creation of large objects without the need for supports. This technology is particularly useful for producing large-scale models that require high precision and durability.
However, the story of Massivit is also the story of its co-founder, Gershon Miller, one of the most influential figures in AM history. Miller took his first steps in 3D printing in 1989, working alongside Yehoram Uziel at 3D Systems. Uziel had developed one of the first SLA machines in Israel. After a stint at Orbotech, Miller founded Idanit, which he later sold to Scitex in 1998, and soon after, he co-founded Objet Geometries.
Following the merger of Objet with Stratasys, Miller remained with the company until mid-2021. In the meantime, in May 2013, he founded Massivit, a company he remains involved with to this day.
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Source: www.prnewswire.com