In this edition of Sliced, our 3D printing news digest, we feature: Rocket Lab, Under Armour, Layer, Rosatom, Wiivv, Hackaday, Cults 3D and the French presidential election.
Rocket Lab raises $75 million in series D funding
Space start up Rocket Lab, who use 3D printing to create rocket engines, has raised $75 million in investment funding. We previously covered the company as they shipped their first Electron rocket.
The series D funding was led by venture capital fund Data Collective, with additional investors Promus Venture as well as a third undisclosed investor.
Closing this fund, Rocket Lab has now received a total investment of $148 million and a valuation in excess of $1 billion.
Under Armour to release 3D printed shoe
US sports brand Under Armour is set to release a limited edition sneaker with 3D printed midsoles. The Architech Futurist will release on the 30th March at the cost of $300 with a limited number available. Reportedly, the shoe takes a day to 3D print and has been tested by the company’s elite athletes including Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.
Only recently 3D Printing Industry delved into Under Armour’s future manufacturing plans as they believe big data, 3D printing and IoT will play larger roles. Adidas is also looking to 3D print sneakers with their Speedfactory concept.
Layer new studio and Award
Design agency Layer has announced they have moved to a new studio in East London and director Benjamin Hubbert has won a Designer of the Year award. The award was given by French and Chinese design publication, IDEAT magazine.
3D Printing Indusrty previously covered the design agency as they 3D printed a working wheelchair. The GO wheelchair is currently displayed in a perspex box at their new location.
Russian Nuclear Energy corporation building 3D printer
Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy corporation, Rosatom has announced it will create a sample 3D printer for metals and composite materials by the end of this year.
Alexey Dub announced the news at Russian technology conference NDExpo in Moscow. He said,
Industrial production of printers for three-dimensional printing of metal products has a great future and not only in the nuclear industry. The need of our country’s medical institutions in implants only, which are manufactured on 3D printers, amounts to 100 thousand per year. However, the market can be estimated at more than 8 billion rubles,
Wiivv launches Kickstarter for 3D printed sandals
Canadian 3D printing startup Wiivv has just launched a Kickstarter campaign for 3D printed sandals. The startup previously released an app to scan feet for their 3D printed insoles. They now plan to use this technology in the creation of custom sandals.
Wiivv previously used the crowdfunding website to kickstart their insole business and their newest campaign has the goal of $250,000.
The 2017 Hackaday Prize
Hackaday is launching its fourth annual design challenge, the Hackaday Prize. Each year Hackaday presents the community with the challenge of addressing current global issues by “making something amazing.” This year the grand prize of the competition is $50,000 with a total prize pot of $250,000. The entry period ends on May 1st.
3D Printing Industry is also encouraging designers to create a design for our 3D Printing Industry Awards.
French 3D printing gets political
Sharing platform Cults 3D has launched a special French election project involving 3D printed busts of the five main candidates. According to Cults 3D, the aim is to remind the French election candidates of the importance of innovation for the future of France.
To create the 3D printed busts, Cults got in touch with 3D printing bureau 3D Prod. The platform is now encouraging users to print the files themselves and share them on the Cults website.
Remember to vote in the 3D Printing Industry Awards.
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Featured image shows Sliced logo over the 3D printed french election busts. Photo via Cults 3D.
