POWERHOUSES IN 3D-PRINTING MERGE
WHITECLOUDS ACQUIRES 3DPLUSME
World’s largest full-color 3D print services provider purchases leader in 3D capture-to-print branded experiences
OGDEN, Utah–January 6, 2016–WhiteClouds, the largest full-color 3D-printing services company in the world, today announced the acquisition of 3DplusMe, a leader in 3D capture-to-print branded experiences. 3DplusMe works with the world’s largest brands in sports, video games and entertainment to create interactive 3D experiences and deliver full-color 3D products for their customers.
WhiteClouds enables companies to use 3D-printing to change the way they deliver product, innovate and create solutions. The company has built a platform to efficiently manufacture high-quality, full-color 3D models and products across architecture, medical and entertainment. With the acquisition of 3DplusMe, WhiteClouds introduces the leading 3D-as-a-Service (3DaaS) platform, which enables brands and channels to create 3D experiences and turn them into full-color 3D printed products. The 3DaaS platform provides a turn-key, scalable system to bring personalized and customized full-color 3D printed products to the mass market. WhiteClouds also adds 3DplusMe’s leading brand partners and retail distribution channels to its already-impressive portfolio.
“3DplusMe has helped the world’s biggest brands create new products that engage customers through their one-of-a-kind technology for 3D capture-to-print,” said Jerry Ropelato, CEO of WhiteClouds. “Being able to combine both of our expertise furthers our position as the world’s leading provider for 3D services and technology. Through this combination, we bring the complete solution with our 3DaaS platform for brands and businesses, especially on the entertainment side, where demand is skyrocketing.”
3DplusMe provides four unique 3D capture-to-print experiences through its technology: 3D+HeroesTM, 3D+CharactersTM, 3D+ToyboxTM, and 3D+GamerTM. Across these offerings, brands have tapped into 3DplusMe’s technology to create customized and personalized experiences for their top characters, toys, action figures, sports heroes, video game or movie characters, and more. 3DplusMe has worked with leading brand partners to connect with their fans including: Marvel, Hasbro, Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), Assassin’s Creed, DreamWorks, and Halo. 3DplusMe also has channel partnerships with Target, Toys ‘R’ Us, Walmart and Sam’s Club.
“We’re excited to partner with WhiteClouds and become a key part of their success in consumer,” said Cydni Tetro, CEO of 3DplusMe. “We have an aggressive model for growth and partnering with WhiteClouds helps us scale our technology and empower more brands to use 3D-printing to create innovate products and engage their customers.”
The combined WhiteClouds and 3DplusMe offering will be on display at CES 2016 from January 6-9, 2016, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Stop by for demos at the Sands, Tech West, Booth #72338.
About WhiteClouds
WhiteClouds delivers a complete 3DaaS platform that enables brands and channels to create 3D experiences and turn them into full-color 3D printed products. WhiteClouds has the world’s largest full-color 3D-printing facility and the premier software platform to deliver 3D experiences and products for mass markets. WhiteClouds delivers complete solutions in Medical, Architecture, and Entertainment. Formed in 2013 and headquartered in Ogden, Utah. For more information, go to www.WhiteClouds.com.
About 3DplusMe
3DplusMe is the first company to introduce a technology platform for 3D face scanning for 3D printed personalized merchandise with major brands. 3DplusMe built a technology platform that makes 3D experiences turn-key, repeatable, scalable and customizable to the brand. The platform has now been used at major events like San Diego Comic Con, MLB World Series, Toys ‘R’ Us in Times Square, in addition to partnerships with major retailers. 3DplusMe has partnered with Marvel, Hasbro, MLB, MLS, Warner Brothers, DreamWorks, Target, Toys ‘R’ Us, Walmart and others to use the platform to create 3D experiences and products for the mass market.
Rapid prototyping uses 3D printing technology to produce models and prototypes of parts, which is much faster and less costly than subtractive methods. Prototypes are built as sample to process a theory by creating a physical object of their design. This allows designers to check for flaws and functional problems before creating the part. Knowing the problems, designers can go back to the design and solve the problems discovered from the prototype.
How Rapid Prototyping in 3D Printing Works
A 3D model is designed in 3D modeling software and saved in an STL or OBJ file. The file is then converted to G-code by the 3D printer’s interface program which slices the model into sections to be printed. The G-code is sent to the printer and the 3D printer prints the part, layer by layer, until it is complete.
Benefits of Rapid Prototyping
Rapid prototyping allows prototypes to be built much faster and at less cost than traditional subtractive methods. This will decrease lead time (the time it takes to complete the process) and will increase revenue by speeding up the design process and getting the product to consumers more quickly.
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