Smart Molding International 2-2023

14 smart_molding international 2/2023 newsfeed Nexa3D and Wilson Sporting Goods join forces to expand access to digital tooling Nexa3D, the ultrafast polymer 3D printing leader, announced at Rapid + TCT 2023 a new project with Wilson Sporting Goods Co.’s Acceleration Center that will expand access to digital tooling solutions through combining the Freeform Injection Molding (FIM) process and specialized xMOLD resin which can create functional molding tools compatible with thousands of injection molding materials. In a deal finalized in March 2023, Nexa3D acquired its long-time partner Addifab, along with its Freeform Injection Molding process, which couples the design freedom of 3D printing withmechanical characteristics and performance of injection molding. The patented digital tooling process uses xMOLD resin to print injection molding tools that are compatible with thousands of off-the-shelf injection molding materials, unlocking the ability to design, iterate, and validate using final grade production materials. “Because we can iterate so much quicker, our R&D team can afford to fail fast and innovate, bringing a higher level of creativity to the process,” said Glen Mason, Advanced Innovation Leader at Wilson Advanced Manufacturing. “On top of that, these tools are compatible with final production materials; the value of prototyping quickly and cost- effectively in final grade materials is a real game-changer here. We couldn’t be more excited to strengthen our working relationship with Nexa3D by expanding access to FIM within the product development and manufacturing community so they can take advantage of this revolutionary digital tooling process.” The new capabilities give Nexa3D’s current and prospective customers the ability to benchmark and qualify the FIM digital tooling process before making any capital investments. “We are pleased to see the benefits of FIM realized by the R&D team at Wilson and look forward to enabling other customers looking to qualify and integrate the process into their own product design and manufacturing workflow,” said Kevin McAlea, Chief Operating Officer at Nexa3D. Nexa3D www.nexa3d.com Fortify secured $12.5 million in funding from investors Fortify, a leading full-stack materials science and additive manufacturing company, has raised $12.5 million in a funding round from investors, including Lockheed Martin Ventures and RTX Ventures, the venture capital arms of Lockheed and Raytheon Technologies, respectively. This strategic investment will enable Fortify to expand its capabilities and accelerate the development of its groundbreaking Digital Composite Manufacturing (DCM) platform. Fortify’s DCMplatform revolutionizes the manufacturing of complex structures by offering unique mechanical, electrical, thermal, and electromagnetic properties. The platform has garnered significant interest across more than 50 Fortify partners and customers in digital tooling, medical devices, electronics, aerospace, and defense. Key customers in the A&D space beyond Lockheed and Raytheon Technologies include: In-Q- Tel, US Department of Energy, Rogers Corporation, Lawrence Livermore National Labs, TTM Technologies, and Ierus Technologies. “We are thrilled to have Lockheed Martin Ventures and RTX Ventures as strategic investors in this funding round,” said Lawrence Ganti, CEO of Fortify. “Their expertise and global reach in the aerospace and defense industries will be invaluable in helping us to continue to innovate and scale our Digital Composite Manufacturing platform. We are excited to work together to drive the next generation of advanced materials and additive manufacturing.” Fortify has raised funding from Accel, Cota Capital, Neotribe, Prelude, Mainspring, and Ocean Azul. These investors continue to support the growth of Fortify through follow-on investments. With this latest funding round, Fortify is poised to strengthen its position as a leading innovator in materials science and additive manufacturing and has the potential to unlock new possibilities in advanced materials and manufacturing technologies, and transform industries across the globe. Fortify www.3dfortify.com Picture source: Nexa3D