Makerbot and Ultimaker to merge

MakerBot and Ultimaker, two specialists in desktop 3D printing, have come to a business combination agreement that will accelerate the adoption of additive manufacturing by providing a comprehensive desktop 3D printing ecosystem of hardware, software and materials. The new entity will be backed by existing investors, NPM Capital and Stratasys, and will benefit from a planned cash investment of $62.4m to fuel innovation and expansion into new markets. Nadav Goshen, current MakerBot CEO, and Jürgen von Hollen, current Ultimaker CEO, will act as co-CEOs of the new company moving forward.

For further information
www.makerbot.com
www.ultimaker.com

Improve sheet metal stamping workflows

Metrology specialist Faro has made a new webinar available on-demand. Entitled ‘Using 3D Measurement Technology to Improve Sheet Metal Stamping Workflows’, the free webinar is suitable for any company that is punching, blanking, bending, coining, embossing, flanging, cutting or shearing sheet metal. Viewers will learn about the industry’s current sheet metal stamping QA and MRO dilemma; how 3D laser scanners transform every step of QA and inspection; how other manufacturers have implemented this technology and the results achieved; and how to get started with 3D measurement solutions in stamping workflows.

Watch the webinar at
www.bit.ly/3PoiIzd

Decade of sustainability at Seco Tools

To ensure its contribution to reducing climate change and negative environmental impact, Seco Tools launched its Green Investment Fund (GIF) in 2012. Since then, the GIF has supported investment in a diversity of sustainable projects that have reduced the environmental impact of the company’s operations. In 2022, SEK10m has been dedicated to funding long-term company goals, specifically reducing Seco’s climate impact by more than 50% and reaching 90% circularity by 2030. Projects include solar energy installations around the globe, heat recovery and reusability, and waste circularity initiatives.

For further information www.secotools.com

Voith buys all shares in Voith Hydro

Voith has completed the acquisition of the remaining shares in Voith Hydro from its former partner Siemens Energy. The completion of this transaction makes the Voith Group the sole owner of the Voith Hydro Group Division, previously operated as a joint venture. The two parties have agreed not to disclose the financial details of the transaction. Says Dr Toralf Haag, CEO of the Voith Group: “We are extremely pleased to have completed the acquisition as planned. With this move, we are continuing to pursue our strategy of strengthening the company’s core business in the field of sustainable technologies.”

For further information www.voith.com

LVD buys solutions business of Kuka Benelux

LVD Company NV has acquired the solutions business unit of Kuka Automatisering + Robotics NV in Houthalen-Helchteren, Belgium, to launch a new company, LVD Robotic Solutions BV. The new entity will build on LVD’s experience in engineering robotic systems for sheet metalworking, centred on zero robot teaching, high throughput and fast ‘art to part’. LVD will leverage the proficiency and capabilities of global automation specialist Kuka to put robotised equipment within reach of manufacturers of all sizes and in a wide scope of industries beyond sheet metalworking.

For further information www.lvdgroup.com