On the day UK PM David Cameron is leading a trade delegation to China, Materialise has announced its own direct Chinese link. The company has confirmed that its collaboration with the China 3D Printing Technology Industry Alliance has been made official, following a formal signing ceremony at Materialise’s HQ in Leuven, Belgium last week. The collaboration is seen as a way of strengthening communication and cooperation within the 3D printing industry across continents and the formal event marks an important moment at the start of a structural collaboration between Materialise and all players currently active in the Chinese 3D Printing market.
Through the newly signed partnership agreement, Materialise, as a member of the Alliance, commits to support other members of the China 3D Printing Technology Industry Alliance through software and training while the Alliance commits to promote the legal use of Materialise’s software. Materialise CEO, Fried Vancraen, commented on the partnership: “Materialise has long been active in the Chinese market and although we have supported many companies over the years, we were still somewhat on our own. Now, as members of the China 3D Printing Technology Industry Alliance, we will be working together with all of the major players in the Chinese 3D Printing market, with the shared goal of unleashing 3D Printing’s full potential in China in a sustainable and healthy manner.”
Executive Chairman of the China 3D Printing Technology Industry Alliance, Luo Jun, was also pleased with the partnership and highlighted the benefits of improved collaboration and communication between players in China’s 3D Printing industry and pioneers in the industry, such as Materialise. He also took this occasion to invite Materialise, and others in the industry, to take part in the 2014 World 3D Printing Technology Industry Conference and Exhibition, to be held in Qingdao from June 19–22, 2014. The previous and first edition of the conference attracted 600 guests from the global 3D Printing industry and more than 100 members of the press to Beijing for three days of information sharing and events. The 2014 edition will feature a 3D Printing Creative Competition, a 3D Printing Makers Competition, a 3D Printing Fashion show and an exhibition of the latest 3D Printing technologies, equipment and products.
