Specialty zinc materials provider EverZinc, headquartered in Liège, Belgium, has launched a new “digital transformation arm” that seeks to integrate 3D printing and other cutting edge technologies into its supply chain. Titled “EverZinc Digital” this branch of the company has been launched in collaboration with XponentialWorks, the venture investment, corporate advisory, and product development company of Avi Reichental, board member and former president and CEO of 3D Systems.
Vincent Dujardin, CEO of EverZinc, comments, “Our Industry will see more change in the next decade than it has seen in the last century,”
“Now is the time for us to act and go beyond our current portfolio of products and applications to ensure that we can always deliver the best products and services for our customers and future-proof our business.”
The digitization of EverZinc
EverZinc Digital parent company EverZinc is funded by global investment firm OpenGate Capital. Its three key product areas cover Fine Zinc Powder, Zinc Oxide and Zinc Battery Materials, focusing on application in rechargeable energy storage, long life coatings and additives for skincare, rubber, and farming products.
The introduction of EverZinc Digital is to generate new ideas for the company, and build an ecosystem of startups to increase the applications of zinc materials. In 3D printing, zinc can be used an additive to alloy mixtures, an ingredient for conductive nanoparticle inks, or as a coating for the final finished parts to prevent rust and corrosion.
In addition to 3D printing, EverZinc Digital also seeks to integrate AI, digital manufacturing, nanotechnology, sensors, and robotics “into the company’s entire value-chain and operations,” meeting with the vision of XponetialWorks:
“We foresee a complete digitization of every aspect of our lives enhanced by autonomous robotics everywhere, cognitive AI that powers everything and digital fabrication that manufactures anything.”
As such, XponentialWorks will be helping EverZinc Digital with the formation of the EverZinc Innovation Lab and Accelerator to work with early-stage companies.
Avi Reichental’s growing tech empire
Since stepping down as President and CEO of 3D Systems in 2015, Reichental, through XponentialWorks, has become an active member of a number of companies within the 3D printing industry.
Photopolymer 3D printer provider Nexa3D is listed as one of XponetialWorks’ companies, as is automated CAD developer Paramatters. Reichental is also chairman of the board at PCB 3D printer provider Nano Dimension. In 2017, injection molding company Techniplas LLC announced that he would be heading up its additive manufacturing center, Techniplas Digital, in Ventura, California. The 3D portfolio of XponentialWorks, as the name suggests, continues to grow.
Regarding the collaboration between XponentialWorks and EverZinc Digital, Reichental wrote on Twitter: “Nothing energizes me more than helping companies ignite their transformation. Exited to announce the launch of #EverZinc Digital! #Zinc’s benefits reach incredible heights! They’re truly creating products that matter!”
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Featured image shows the EverZinc team and Avi Reichental (middle right). Photo via EverZinc/EverZinc Digital
