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p98a | Post-digital Printing https://ift.tt/GqB5FTh p98a is an experimental letterpress workshop in Berlin dedicated to letters, printing, and paper. They are a group of multi-disciplined designers, exploring how letterpress can be redefined in the 21st century through research, printing, collecting, publishing, and making things. The team work with hot-metal and wood-type, several proof presses, a Simplex treadle platen and other traditional analogue equipment, which they combine with digital technologies including Risograph and a Glowforge laser. The studio has more than 500 cases of poster type made from wood and alternative materials, ranging from 8 to 60 Cicero (the German equivalent of a “line”) and around 450 cases of foundry type from 6 to 96 point. Gauges for measuring the height of rollers and type as well as the thickness of paper are tools they use daily. p98a also have type specimens and a large collection of books – old and new —about printing, typesetting and typography. Currently, the workshop are experimenting with different materials and methods for producing their own large type. After trying out acrylic glass and 3D printing, CNC-milling from hard surfaces like Formica mounted on plywood turned out to be the most promising way. Their Glowforge laser cuts shapes from plexi, plywood and other materials – to replace missing letters or to make artwork for letterpress printing. The shapes are mounted to be type-high (23.56mm in our case) and can then be printed on their proof-presses. They also cut or engrave objects – gauges, keyrings, labels. p98a expose polymer plates, cut large size type from digital data, and mill punches to make matrices for casting new hot metal type. They use a direct-to-plate process to output digital plates for letterpress-printing books on a Heidelberg Cylinder from 1954. Printing via People of Print https://ift.tt/ETAhfmC April 28, 2023 at 06:33AM
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B2B vs. B2C marketing: what’s the real difference? https://ift.tt/oT5XO3j B2B and B2C customers aren’t the same, so tailoring your marketing efforts to each is crucial. To start, you’re either marketing to one consumer or a department at a company — but it goes deeper than that. Even the way these audience groups make decisions is miles apart. B2B buyers make purchasing decisions after doing in-depth research and weighing the advantages and disadvantages of multiple solutions to a problem. Conversely, B2C purchases can be emotionally driven or even spur-of-the-moment, especially when the pricing is right. In fact, an Intelligence Node report found that 37.7% of consumers plan to continue spending in 2023 as they did in 2022, despite economic uncertainty. And 14.1% plan to increase their spending. These key differences in consumer behavior alone call for a custom approach to engaging and getting conversions from each audience. But that’s just one of the many facets you must account for to build effective marketing campaigns for each segment. Here, we do a deep dive into the primary things that set B2B and B2C marketing apart and explore what successful catering to these audiences looks like. But first, let’s dive into the basic differences between these types of marketing. Difference between B2B and B2C marketing Final thoughts: B2B vs. B2C marketing — 5 primary differences explained Comparing B2B vs. B2CB2B marketing explainedB2B (business-to-business) marketing is geared toward a company or business. It targets one or several key decision-makers or departments in an organization. A good example of a B2B business is GetResponse MAX, which sells email and SMS automation and other marketing tools to organizations. Another example is Bluehost, which offers web hosting services to other businesses. B2C marketing explainedIn contrast, B2C (business-to-consumer) marketing refers to strategies a company uses to promote its services and products to individual consumers. Examples of B2C businesses include Starbucks and Spotify. Can B2B and B2C intersect?It’s very common for businesses to cater to both B2B and B2C consumers, so they overlap frequently. For example:
B2B and B2C audiences can also intersect through the B2B2C model. In this model, two businesses collaborate to sell products or services to consumers. For instance, Instacart teams up with grocery stores to offer customers grocery delivery services. It provides an ecommerce website where consumers can shop for groceries from their preferred store. In return, Instacart gains access to a built-in customer base. This partnership also benefits grocery stores by letting them provide delivery services without significant technology and staffing investments. The difference between B2B and B2C marketing
1. Target audienceThere’s one standout distinction between B2B and B2C customers: The former buy products for their company, and the latter buy items for their personal use. In that sense, the person you want to reach with your marketing efforts for each audience is completely different. B2B: Key decision-makers within a companyThe target audience in B2B marketing is a company’s key decision-makers. They include CEOs, product managers, and department leaders. These B2B buyers make purchasing decisions on behalf of their organization. Therefore, they consider the long-term value and impact a purchase will have on the company. B2B customers are savvy and often know exactly what they want. A Bain and Google study shows that 80% to 90% of B2B buyers will create a list of potential companies to purchase from before researching any product. And 90% will eventually select a brand from their initial list. On top of that, these buyers are more skeptical and have higher expectations for solution providers and B2B sales reps. In fact, 36% of B2B customers dropped a software provider that gave them confusing information or had a bad sales presentation.
These stats show the difficulties that come with selling to B2B buyers. You must prove yourself as an authority in your industry and clearly demonstrate the benefits and value of your product or service to gain the trust of these savvy customers. B2C: Direct consumersB2C marketing targets consumers looking to buy personal items. Factors like cost, enjoyment, and convenience typically motivate these customers. According to a WARC report, more than 70% of shoppers like the convenience of buying products instantly from the platform they’re browsing. And Shopify’s Commerce Trends 2023 report found that consumers want a personal and responsive experience — everywhere they shop. They’re also concerned about the value of their purchases. According to Insider Intelligence, 66% of shoppers who switched brands in 2022 were looking for better deals. And 58% were searching for better product quality. As a result, offering consumers a great shopping experience and the best value should be a top priority for B2C marketers. 2. Marketing automationMarketing automation refers to software that automates your marketing campaigns based on predefined rules. It helps you create ongoing conversations with customers and build brand loyalty automatically, thus saving time and resources. B2B: Lead generation and nurturing leadsB2B marketers use marketing automation to:
Marketing automation platforms like GetResponse MAX let you streamline your tasks through advanced automation tools and workflows. They also help you stay efficient and productive while nurturing leads. Some GetResponse MAX features that align with what B2B marketers look for in automation software include:
B2C: Retaining customersMarketing automation for B2C is meant to help you send personalized and highly relevant marketing messages to consumers at various customer journey stages. B2C marketers use marketing automation to:
Some GetResponse MAX features that check the boxes of what B2C marketers look for in an automation platform include: 3. Buying cycle lengthThe buying cycle (or sales cycle) is the process prospects go through before making a purchase. The time it takes to get them from the first stage (awareness) to when you close the deal determines the length of the sales cycle. B2B: Longer cyclesThe purchasing decision in B2B is meant to achieve long-term goals for the organization, so it involves multiple stakeholders. As a result, the process of evaluating your services or products is much more complex than in B2C. Your marketing campaigns should target key individuals and decision-making committees, which requires more preparation and research. Once you understand your B2B audience, offer them high-quality content that they’ll consider valuable, such as case studies and thought leadership. That way, you can establish your brand as an authority and gain credibility. You’ll also be able to guide them through the customer and may even shorten the sales cycle. For example, the American Express website offers myriad thought-leadership content from industry experts and business owners. The articles cover company culture, marketing and sales, productivity, and cash flow. The insights have established American Express as an authority that offers actionable tips and inspiration to help companies adapt and succeed. As a result, the financial services corporation can leverage its influence and attract potential customers to purchase its services. B2C: Shorter cyclesThe B2C sales cycle is shorter, especially for lower-value items. Customers typically navigate the buyer’s journey on their own, but they may rely on reviews and testimonials. They may also consult with friends, partners, or family when making expensive purchases, like a home or a car. Price heavily influences the purchasing decisions of B2C shoppers. The Intelligence Node report found that almost 40% of buyers consider cost the most important factor when picking between third-party and direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketplaces. After the price, consumers look at the product’s quality, shipping costs, and the platform’s convenience. The same report found that shoppers highly value discounts, especially in the grocery, consumer electronics, and fashion categories. Therefore, closely monitor your competitors’ promotional activity to ensure your pricing, discounts, and product value meet customers’ expectations and outshine your business rivals. 4. Content marketingB2C content targets an individual consumer. But B2B content has to convince a group of people that your product or service is the best option and can address a wide range of pain points. B2B: Content for educationB2B content marketing aims to build trust with customers. It does so by focusing on the pain points of hyper-specific buyer personas and educating them on solving their problems. In fact, 62% of B2B marketers use content marketing to generate sales and revenue. Creating content in a specific niche throughout the entire buyer journey can persuade customers to make more significant purchases. For example, TechSoup Polska Foundation — a technology company for nonprofit organizations — used GetResponse to segment its audience of nongovernmental organizations, libraries, and museums. TechSoup then consistently sent valuable newsletters on training invitations, new offers, and tips to choose the right tools for remote work to its audience. As a result, the company achieved a 1,200% increase in order value from its newsletters within a year. B2C: Content that offers immediate solutionsB2C content marketing persuades customers to buy by appealing to their emotions and helping them solve their problems. That’s why 40% of B2C marketers use content marketing to generate sales and revenue. LandCafe.pl — an online store offering artisanal coffee beans — wanted to increase product awareness, speed up buying decisions, and increase sales. The ecommerce store used GetResponse to create a welcome email series that educated new subscribers about its brand and products. As a result, it shortened the buying process by helping customers purchase the coffee they liked best. With time, the brand saw a 41.3% increase in sales using the welcome email series and a 13.3% boost from the discount coupon email. In a nutshell, create content to educate your B2B audience and build trust, but use it to offer solutions to your B2C audience and shorten the purchasing process. Consumers can become loyal to your brand when they see value in your product or service. 5. Social media marketingSocial media marketing is a powerful way for brands to engage their prospects and customers and increase sales. However, B2B and B2C social media campaigns have significantly different content, strategies, and goals. B2B: Build long-term relationshipsB2B social media marketing aims to promote informative and educational content to your target audience so they get valuable information frequently. That way, you can build relationships with prospects who may eventually become customers. Some of the most useful social media channels for B2B marketers include LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. Of those, LinkedIn stands out as the most effective channel. In fact, 4 out of 5 people on LinkedIn help make business decisions. So, you can leverage the platform to engage your audience and distribute your thought-leadership content. Here’s an example from McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm: McKinsey & Company consistently uses LinkedIn to share its thought-leadership posts, adding to its reputation as one of the most credible brands in the world. You can also use LinkedIn to educate your audience about how your newly launched products can improve their business. GetResponse does this well by announcing its new AI email generator on LinkedIn: The post generated a positive reaction from potential customers, who learned how to create engaging emails with a GPT-powered email generator in record time. B2C: Drive traffic and salesBecause the buying cycle is shorter, special offers and direct contact work great for B2C social media marketing. In other words, B2C social media marketing is usually less about educating and more about selling and entertaining. Some effective social media channels for B2C marketers include Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Instagram stands out with nearly 1.3 billion monthly global users in 2022. The platform focuses on pictures, letting you give a personal face to your brand and attract customers with eye-catching product images. Here’s an example from Starbucks: Starbucks posted a colorful picture of a matcha drink that attracted a lot of positive comments from consumers — with many commenters wanting to know how to order it. The company uses attractive images to create a strong brand identity, connect with its followers, and increase sales. Final thoughts: B2B vs. B2C marketing — 5 primary differences explainedUnderstanding the differences in B2B vs. B2C marketing is crucial to creating successful marketing campaigns that meet your customers’ unique needs. Choosing the right marketing automation platform will help you effortlessly send your campaigns to your clients’ preferred channels. If you’re looking for a customized solution to help you cater to your B2B or B2C audience, GetResponse MAX can help. Printing via GetResponse Blog https://ift.tt/nO2kVrJ April 27, 2023 at 11:05AM
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Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Signs Three-Year 3D Printing Deal with Roboze https://ift.tt/Lfai3W7 Roboze, an additive manufacturing (AM) leader in super polymers and composite materials, has entered a three-year technical collaboration with the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team, beginning in 2023 and running through 2025. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP has been looking to incorporate 3D printing into its development process for some time, and with Roboze, it finally found the right technical partner. Roboze is no stranger to partnering with MotoGP teams, previously partnering with Volkswagen’s Ducati Corse team in 2022. Roboze supplied the Ducati team with its printers, as well as PEEK, PEEK CF, and other materials to create lighter and more aerodynamic parts. Roboze also offered technical expertise to ensure the parts met the demands Ducati needed on track. The duo’s partnership culminated in Ducati’s MotoGP taking 1st and 5th in the 2022 driver’s championship and 1st in the 2022 constructors championship. Now, Roboze looks to continue its success in MotoGP with the Monster Energy Yamaha racing team. The Monster Yamaha team needed a partner with a proven track record in AM and one that could help incorporate 3D printing into its motorcycle development. The technology has become increasingly prevalent across many racing disciplines, including MotoGP, and Monster knew it had to utilize the technology if it wanted to stay competitive in the sport. But who would be the right fit? Enter Roboze. The collaboration will utilize Roboze’s combination of advanced mechatronics, industrial automation, and materials science to help develop the best motorcycle. The Roboze ARGO 500 is set to be the main printer used and can produce parts that can replace some of the motorcycle’s metal components. The lighter weight materials and optimized aerodynamics of each segment should produce a faster vehicle, and with 3D printing’s ability to produce and validate Monster Yamaha’s motorcycle concepts quicker, this could help the team bring more upgrades throughout the season.
We will keep an eye on how this collaboration progresses, and how Monster Yamaha benefits from the partnership. This is an exciting time in the racing space, and it’s amazing how prevalent 3D printing/additive manufacturing is becoming in this world. The post Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Signs Three-Year 3D Printing Deal with Roboze appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://ift.tt/CJbsc3B April 27, 2023 at 10:03AM
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Evonik and Curiteva’s Pioneering 3D Printed Spinal Implant Used in First US Surgery https://ift.tt/GMkLW5n In the first surgery of its kind in the United States, a novel 3D printed PEEK spinal implant has been successfully inserted into a patient. Made by medical tech firm Curiteva using Evonik’s proprietary implant-grade filament based on PEEK (polyetheretherketone), called VESTAKEEPi4 3DF PEEK, the 3D printed, fully interconnected porous structure is the world’s first of its kind for commercial use and will be launched in the U.S. later this year. News of the successful outcome arrived only weeks after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared Curiteva’s novel 3D printed spinal implant for use. According to the FDA 510(k) summary document, the porous PEEK cervical interbody fusion system called Inspire is indicated for intervertebral body fusion of the spine in adult patients. It is “intended for use for anterior cervical interbody fusion in patients with cervical disc degeneration and/or cervical spinal instability.” In addition, during the non-clinical tests, the 3D printed fusion system demonstrated strength and performance substantially equivalent to existing medical devices. Overall, the combination of Curiteva’s technology and Evonik’s cutting-edge material offer the possibility of enhancing integration and healing for spinal surgery. The Inspire platform used for the first-of-its-kind U.S. surgery was manufactured with Evonik’s VESTAKEEP high-performance polymer on a proprietary, patented 3D printer designed, programmed, and built by Curiteva. Described by the company as the first 3D fused filament fabrication (FFF) printer to consistently create novel PEEK implant structures, Curiteva’s platform has continuous and contiguous filament deposition and fabrication layers that incorporate engineered (TPMS) diamond structures. The result is an implant structure that provides superior biomechanics and enhanced biological osseointegration (a direct structural and functional connection between the living bone and the surface of the implant).
Others, like Kevin Foley, Chairman of Semmes-Murphey Neurologic and Spine Institute, and Randy Dryer a spine surgeon with the Central Texas Spine Institute, highlighted the importance of this interbody implant’s fully interconnected porosity.
With the potential to fit the specific anatomy of a patient’s spine, 3D printed spinal implants have been used in a growing number of surgeries in recent years. These bespoke implants are helping reduce the risk of complications while improving the effectiveness of the surgery. Furthermore, according to a report by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), over 100,000 spinal implants are produced using 3D printing technology each year, and this number is expected to continue to grow. In 2019, Australian neurosurgeon Ralph Mobbs became the first surgeon in the world to use a 3D printed spinal implant. After removing a tumor in the neck of a patient with chordoma, a rare form of spinal cancer, he inserted a perfectly fitted implant to successfully restore stability to the patient’s spine. The spinal implant cage was 3D printed by researchers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) and the medical device company Anatomics using titanium. Although the choice of material is a complex decision typically made on a case-by-case basis by the treating physician, what makes Curiteva and Evonik’s device so special is Evonik’s high-performance polymer, which is specially designed for 3D printing and is made with proprietary technology. It’s biocompatible, meaning it is safe for use in the human body and is commonly used in medical implants and devices. VESTAKEEP comes in filament form and meets the stringent requirements of ASTM F2026, which is the standard for PEEK polymers approved for use in surgical implant applications. As the world’s first 3D-printable filament to meet this requirement for medical use, it is an ideal choice for medical implants and devices. In the past, Evonik collaborated with many companies to create implants. With Oxford Performance Materials (OPM), Evonik produced spinal implants designed to mimic the natural structure of bone and allow for bone growth through the implant. Evonik has also collaborated with Acuitive Technologies to develop a new generation of orthopedic implants using its VESTAKEEP biomaterial, designed to improve the longevity and performance of joint replacements and other orthopedic devices. The company has also partnered with EOS to develop a new 3D printing technology for the production of customized medical implants. These collaborations showcase the versatility and potential of VESTAKEEP filament and the brand’s commitment to innovation and partnership in the development of new materials and technologies. The post Evonik and Curiteva’s Pioneering 3D Printed Spinal Implant Used in First US Surgery appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://ift.tt/CZKLnxG April 27, 2023 at 07:57AM
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European Teams Examine the Combined Impacts of 3D Printing and Subtractive Manufacturing https://ift.tt/B7G5Ybi As many in the additive manufacturing (AM) industry know, 3D printing alone often doesn’t cut it and can be best combined with subtractive processes to finish parts. For many applications, hybrid process chains such as these will become the path to end use parts. A recent industry project, dubbed “Advanced Processing of Additively Manufactured Parts (Ad-Proc-Add),” looked in depth at additive-subtractive process chains with the goal of more cost-effective and more hybrid process chain implementations. The project was lead by Forschungskuratorium Maschinenbau e.V. (FKM) together with the Institute for Machine Tools (IfW) of the University of Stuttgart and included KU Leuven, Inspire AG, Institute of Machining Technology (ISF), TU Dortmund University, Sirris, ETH Zurich with funding from the German, Swiss, Flemish and Austrian governments.The aim of the project was to see how settings affected part properties throughout the process chain. The results lead to more clarity on getting metal components made, better post processing practices, insight into better quality assurance (QA) and greater knowledge about monitoring which can now be shared. You can download the findings here.
Some of the research to emerge from this project included how wire arc additive manufacturing components can be machined. The team there came up with a formula that one could use to see how the settings during the 3D printing welding step and the milling parameters collectively affects surface roughness. The amount of heat put into a part and the effects this has on post-processing was also looked explored. In this paper, researchers examined the impact of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) settings on the post-processing of bores, while another saw a team investigate LPBF settings and drilling. In this paper, the authors looked at weakening LPBF components at certain points to make post-processing easier. This one delves into adopting additive versions of gas metal arc welding and cold metal transfer welding. All in all, this is valuable work. The Cornet project is quite immense in scope and scale. A lot of research seems focused on a perennial need to qualify a particular material for PBF over and over again, but this is exactly the type of thing that would require a lot of different researchers, a lot of different expertises and interests and a lot of time. By deploying lots of universities across four countries a lot of research can be coordinated and parallelized into a cohesive effort. In additive especially this has considerable benefits. A lot of times people consider settings, parameters and process knowledge to be proprietary. Due to this a lot of time has been spent with people reinventing the wheel. We don’t share knowledge, especially in depth process related knowledge and this really slows us down. In our tip of the Iceberg series we point to this being one of the main things slowing down the adoption of Additive. Especially in taking a gander at WAAM and other relatively newly hot 3D printing technologies an early collective start in understanding the interplay and feedback loops in parameters and their effects is a real force multiplier for the entire industry. The post European Teams Examine the Combined Impacts of 3D Printing and Subtractive Manufacturing appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://ift.tt/CZKLnxG April 27, 2023 at 07:57AM
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Mobile Print Studio https://ift.tt/PO4kZfp Mobile Print Studio (MoPS), led by David Farrar, travels all over the city of Glasgow delivering printmaking classes to a wide range of audiences. Aiming to bring printmaking to as many people as possible, David regularly loads up his bike trailer and cycles to locations including galleries, coffee shops, schools, and community centres. MoPS offers beginner friendly and introductory classes in screen printing, etching, woodcut, and collagraph, as well as more in-depth classes in their East End studio. David enjoys engaging with local communities and participating in various printmaking projects. He is currently preparing a series of workshops with a local youth community organisation, G20, which will be financed by sales from MoPS’s very own 2023 fundraiser calendar. While the main focus of MoPS is on education and spreading the joy of printmaking, they occasionally partner with local businesses to promote their brands through fun screenprinting events where members of the public get to try their hands on printing merchandise products. MoPS’ founder has been interested in art since a young age, and while growing up had the opportunity to try screenprinting at his local school under the supervision of the inspiring screenprint technician Valeska Hykel, which determined his entire career. After completing his Foundation course at Oxford Brookes University, David graduated from Glasgow School of Art with BA (Hons) in Fine Art: Paint & Printmaking. He was fortunate enough to participate in several Art Residencies, including the Virginia Centre for Creative Arts in the USA and one in Belgium at Frans Masereel Centrum, where he further explored printmaking and focused on his own creative practice. Now, David works at Glasgow School of Art where he has been a screenprinting technician for the past 8 years, assisting students with their projects and passing on his knowledge of print processes. He has also recently completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Learning & Teaching where he solidified his teaching skills. “I was lucky enough to have the chance to experience printmaking at school, which led me to study Painting & Printmaking in Glasgow and ultimately establish a career as an artist. I now want to give back and offer the public an opportunity to try out technical creative processes in relaxed and affordable classes.” David is currently focused on running printmaking classes with the help of two freelance workshop leaders, Olivia Juett and Tintin Lindkvist Nielsen, while searching for ways to participate in community projects as much as possible. MoPS recently completed a collaboration with Notre Dame High School in Greenock where they taught screenprinting to the local pupils and staff; “It was a great opportunity to engage with potential new artists and inspire them to pursue creative careers, which is exactly the direction I want MoPS to go in the near future.” David hopes to secure funding to be able to lead a series of workshops in schools all over Glasgow, helping children and young people to be creative and explore new skills, as well as carry on working on community projects and engaging with minority and vulnerable groups around Glasgow as he believes that “cost should not be a barrier to accessing art”. David uses traditional printmaking equipment such as screens, woodcut chisels, and etching tools, all of which he brings on his bike trailer to workshop locations around Glasgow – he even carries his trusty etching press which is deceptively heavy considering its small size! He is a keen promoter of sustainable travel and cycles to his workshops if he can, or takes public transport to locations slightly further afield. “I apologise to everyone who gets stuck behind me in traffic when cycling up the hill,” says David, “but I am really proud to be contributing to sustainable travel and I’ve actually done some quick maths and calculated that by cycling instead of driving we’ve saved around 100,000g CO2 over the past 8 years, which is incredible!” www.mobileprintstudio.co.uk Printing via People of Print https://ift.tt/WK3YO19 April 27, 2023 at 05:44AM
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Gabriela Jolowicz https://ift.tt/FyXVmz7 Gabriela Jolowicz is a German woodcut artist whose narrative black and white depictions of everyday life blur the boundary between reality and imagination. Through a combination of styles and sources, she explores the traditional woodcut medium, capturing the contrast between the overflow of information and the slow process of cutting into wood in her distinctive art.Gabriela completed her diploma and post-graduate studies at the Academy of Visual Arts, Leipzig, and has since exhibited her works in numerous international group and solo exhibitions, including The International Print Center New York, Museo de la Estampa in Mexico City, The Museum of Visual Arts in Leipzig, and a recent solo exhibition at the Goethe Institute in Prague. Her works can be found in public collections, including the Staedtisches Kunstmuseum Spendhaus Reutlingen, Deutsche Bundesbank Frankfurt am Main, and Kunststiftung Kreissparkasse Ludwigsburg. The printmaker has also received several awards, including the first prize at the International Woodcut Art Competition of the KSK Ludwigsburg in 2012 and the Artist in Residence Award of Black Church Print Studios in Dublin in 2016. She has published two original woodcut books; Megabillig and Megabillig 2 with Lubok books in Leipzig. Her work has also been commissioned as illustrations in newspapers and magazines. Currently, Gabriela holds teaching assignments at the University of the Arts in Bremen and Berlin University of the Arts, and lives and works in Berlin. @gabrielajolowicz Printing via People of Print https://ift.tt/WK3YO19 April 27, 2023 at 04:59AM
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Nikon Streamlines 3D Printing Operations with Nikon Advanced Manufacturing Inc. in US https://ift.tt/3ibrxCA Nikon (TYO: 7731), the Japanese optics manufacturing conglomerate, announced that the company has created Nikon Advanced Manufacturing Inc., a California-based company that will begin operating in July, 2023. According to Nikon, this is the company’s first-ever business unit with a global headquarters outside of Japan. One of the primary purposes of the new company will be to serve as an integrator of production processes leveraged from two of the company’s additive manufacturing (AM) acquisitions, SLM Solutions Group AG and Morf3D — while, at the same time, allowing each company to continue to serve its existing customer base. Nikon Advanced Manufacturing will also assume control of the company’s own 3D printing business.
The new business unit will get started with $25 million in initial capital, and according to Nikon, it will be “customer-centric.” Presumably, this means that Nikon Advanced Manufacturing is being established to meet the needs of each individual company that Nikon serves in the US, like an in-house service bureau. Although the press release doesn’t specify where in California the company will be headquartered, it does mention that the “location provides excellent proximity to customers and partners including the aerospace, space and defense industries.” Morf3D happens to be located in El Segundo (Southern California), a hotbed for the aerospace, space and defense sectors. The company considers this development crucial to its Nikon Vision 2030 strategy, and it is not just a big deal for Nikon, itself, but for the future of manufacturing, and for the AM sector most of all. It is extremely significant that the company’s nonstop AM activity since 2019 is culminating in Nikon spinning off its most cutting edge operations into a standalone division. It is equally significant that that company will be the first Nikon unit with a global headquarters outside of Japan. Moreover, it is of more than symbolic importance that 3D printing is the central focus of a business with “Advanced Manufacturing” as the main element of its name. As there is starting to emerge an integration between all the various elements within advanced manufacturing, it has become clearer to those in the 3D printing industry that, to realize their full potential, additive technologies will require optimal compatibility with multiple other technological fields. In the same way, it will soon become clear to all of the other sectors comprising advanced manufacturing that 3D printing will be the technology playing the central role in the whole new schema for industrialization. The establishment of Nikon Advanced Manufacturing is one of the first big inklings of that. Images courtesy of Nikon The post Nikon Streamlines 3D Printing Operations with Nikon Advanced Manufacturing Inc. in US appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://ift.tt/CZKLnxG April 26, 2023 at 04:05PM
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Xtellar: Braskem Spins off 3D Printing Materials Division into New Business https://ift.tt/BREdDZu With $14 billion in revenues, Brazil’s Braskem is the largest petrochemical company in Latin America and the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas, particularly polypropylene (PP). The giant has taken some important steps in 3D printing, so far establishing an e-commerce offering and buying nylon 3D printing pioneer Taulman3D. The company has released PP, EVA and PP/PE filaments and pellets, including such novel products as a sugarcane derived 94 Shore A EVA material and FL600R, which is in part made of bottlecaps. Braskem also developed a powder bed fusion material together with ALM. In a previous interview, we learned that the company was relying on new sustainable materials, quality, and its established work in PE and PP to succeed. Now, Oxygea, Braskem´s sustainability startup accelerator, has spun out these activities into a new company, Xtellar. Xtellar is meant to bring new 3D printing filaments, pellets and powders to market. The company specifically wants to look at PETG, Polyamide, bio-based materials and recycled polymers as well as PP And PE.
As corporate ventures go, this is probably a very wise thing to do. Xteller can still rely on Braskem´s huge volume and deep R&D in materials to make its own products while it also pushes Braskem resin in the market. Meanwhile, the more agile, quick, and focused unit should be able to develop more additive manufacturing (AM) expertise and better develop the market. Some corporate attempts to enter the 3D printing market have been laughably aloof. And several ventures have put some distance between the corporate and the client. If you don’t know what is going on in the market, the issues that customers are facing, and the relevant applications, you simply will not make the right materials. You’ll also not really understand what drives the market and what base needs are in the space. Such fool-hardy attempts may make you miss the mark time and time again. What we’ve seen, as well, is that new firms without market understanding struggle to find key applications and make materials that suit them. They then resort to chasing the same few known applications that everyone else is. This is a key issue that we look at more deeply in our Tip of the Iceberg Problem post. Often major petrochemical firms are too focused on pushing their own product families and pellets without regard for if they are optimal. Another issue is that, while insanely profitable, the venture often has no meaningful impact on the bottom line for the larger firm. This can lead to a lack of attention from corporate for the venture. With all of this in mind, the Xtellar spin-off seems like a smart play. I also really like the focus on pellets, which will grow quickly as part sizes in that segment make for a lot of material being used. The number of applications in large- and medium -ormat is growing rapidly as well, so this seems like a sensible area to pay attention to. The post Xtellar: Braskem Spins off 3D Printing Materials Division into New Business appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://ift.tt/CZKLnxG April 26, 2023 at 09:47AM
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Wiring Automation Unleashed with Q5D CY1000 3D Printing Robotic System https://ift.tt/DtX2STe Wiring is not sexy, but, several times in 3D printing, I’ve seen production grind to a halt over essential wire guides and holders. Just recently, production at several large vehicle manufacturers ceased completely because their wire harness manufacturing was located in Ukraine. Enter Q5D, a UK-based firm that has just released its latest solution for automated wire harness manufacturing, the CY1000, which combines subtractive and additive manufacturing (AM) to create these crucial parts. With a 1000mm by 300mm build volume, the CY1000 is a production cell featuring a five-axis robot with interchangeable toolheads. It has been created to be a fully automated solution to 3D print parts, add conductive materials, components, and connectors, and then pick-and-place them onto other parts made out of plastic, metal, or ceramic. The unit can 3D print in polymers such as PEEK and print conductive wire. Now, you can put one of these in your factory and produce wire harnesses in-house. The machine can be set up as part of a production line or used as a single cell. The robotic arm also joins up all the necessary parts into a final assembly. It can add components to existing large parts. In the future, the company aims to incorporate the use of conductive inks, in addition to copper wiring it relies on now.
The Wonderful World of WiresTimely production and delivery of wire harnesses is key. Traditionally, companies have seen this as a cost center element, best outsourced to however far away they can get away with. However, new worries about resilience and a focus on national production have lead to people looking for new solutions for wire harnesses. Many complex machines, devices, and vehicles have these devices in them. They are either assembled in-house or by other specialized factories and vendors, often in other countries. They have to arrive at the factory just in time to be plugged into the rest of the machine and perform this task well. Any issue with this key component will lead to delays. A car engine could have a 100 wires leading into it, while the car itself could have 1.5 Kilometers of wire in it. An aircraft, meanwhile, may have, “500 km of cables, over 100,000 wires, and more than 40,000 connectors.” Q5D pulled in $2.7 million in seed funding last February and it’s not difficult to see why. The startup is addressing an incredibly vast market here. Rather than focus on the $13.5 billion revenue AM market, the company has bigger fish to fry. Wire harnesses are complex, necessary, and more costly than they need to be. A CY1000 machine may enable a company to be more responsive and allow it respond to orders more quickly, especially in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing. This is also a promising solution for manufacturers of high-end electronics, machinery, and vehicles. The increased speed and local production could really make supply chains more resilient or increase time to market. It would be worthwhile to see if companies would look to deploying these systems in advanced economies in order to serve large OEMs. It may be a great niche to use one of these to make wire harnesses that get to customers faster and, perhaps in some cases, are more low-cost than those produced by hand. Labor everywhere is getting scarcer and more expensive. Manufacturing sorely needs the CY1000 or something like it in order to respond to an increasingly competitive, fickle, and brutal global market for advanced goods. The post Wiring Automation Unleashed with Q5D CY1000 3D Printing Robotic System appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://ift.tt/CZKLnxG April 26, 2023 at 09:47AM |
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