Stratasys subsidiary Solidscape makes high-end 3D wax printers for the jewellery industry. They’ve just announced a strategic agreement with China’s Kangshuo Group Co. Ltd. Together they hope to set up the largest 3D printing service bureau in China to serve the domestic jewelry industry and the burgeoning custom jewelry market.
Kangshuo Group is a 3D printing, air treatment and clean energy conglomerate. They plan on constructing four 3D printing service bureau centers this year and next, with the first center opening in Shenzhen in June, followed by Guangzhou in October and Shanghai and Beijing in 2016. Each facility will feature several hundred Solidscape printers. This agreement comes about a year after the Chinese government announced a plan to help grow their domestic additive manufacturing industry along with incorporating 3D printing education into their schools.
Kangshuo President Bin Liu says, “we are excited about creating the largest 3D printing service bureau in China and want to offer our customers the best possible products for the jewelry sector. The clear choice was Solidscape.”
Kangshuo stands behind the accuracy and detailed models Solidscape 3D printers produce, give that these high precision 3D printers capable of 6 micron resolution and offer jewelers the ability to 3D print complex wax pieces that eventually are castable in metal.
New Hampshire-based Solidscape President, Fabio Esposito says “Kangshuo Group’s strong business reputation and commitment to the jewelry segment in China is ideal to support Solidscape’s continuous expansion. Having a customer-centric partner that can deliver top quality sales and service to the jewelry industry in China was our strategic goal. In addition to bolstering the local NH economy and future job creation, we’re thrilled to be an American company exporting our products to China.”
Kangshuo have decided to only feature Solidscape 3D printers at their facility. They argue that in the jewelry industry, models must be perfect, and no other company offers the precision and the high quality finish that Solidscape’s 3D printers offer.
