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In today's market the tech school is probably better…. lol. There are plumbers making 3x my teacher's salary as we speak! ;)
I said that to myself in May and sold some to play around with for summer… wish I hadn't as now I'm 35k shares off my mark and worse off than I would have been had I just stayed the course with Sigma. lol. Live and learn… :/ Wish I had more dry powder but we have too many weird expenses coming up the next two months for me to throw more in right now; I like to keep a good cushion in my bank account. I'm holding my (now long term!) position tight these next months, looking forward to the later fall months.
I did as you said the first time you posted it, and yes it pulls up clearly, though it won't let me click on the extended post. Idk how to post a screen shot but if someone tells me how I can. Also, I did the live chat with one of their representatives about it, asked if they could tell me whether any machines were shipped to Fencemaker. The lady said "We have a crushing and [milling?] machine, are you interested in those?" [Apologies- I did not save the convo so don't remember the other type] I responded I was interested in what was shipped to Fencemaker; and she responded thank you and please feel free to contact us if you have anymore questions. Idk what that means but I tried for what it's worth.
The standalone is ready. The embedded version is in development. Like your computer coming with Windows. Or an iPhone with pre-loaded apps.
Embedded version!! Heck yeah! dot, dot, dot indeed :)
For real- Morris Tech was rapid prototyping until GE bought them out. Clearly, there is money to be made there. Probably not TOO much with just one printer, but if they can kill two birds with one stone (showing IPQA works to PrintRite buyers- and selling what they're making while demonstrating its ability) that's better/less wasteful than just printing generic sample parts to show somebody. They can't show off GE's stuff for obvious reasons; but perhaps they can show the data they get from the smaller/ less restrictive contract jobs. Just a thought.
I don't see why everyone thinks you have to have an MBA to be a good businessperson. MBA's are a joke, IMO- degrees for frat boys who already have ready made jobs at dad or best-friend's uncle's company, and sometimes a blue-collar guy trying to get a leg up. The best businesspeople I know [those who have run successful start ups] came from other fields… Restaurant people, an under-thirty mechanical engineer who instead made a business incubator connecting people in our small city with silicon valley big wigs; even the theater and art kids I went to school with have had commercial success, one via a 3D printing lab [he took one class and saw the opportunity], the other running his own children's theater. Some have had no degrees at all. [Not to mention, Bill Gates… another 'geek' who also had business sense lol] Success in business is more dependent on mindset and timing than education, IMO. The ability to see, recognize, and seize opportunity is not something you can teach, nor is the real-life networking and elbow rubbing that goes along with making your company a success. All an MBA degree really does (IF it's from a good school) is connect you with appropriate people and do some of that elbow rubbing for you by association. I'm convinced everything else can be self taught with books and talking to as many people who have achieved what you hope to become as possible. Do you honestly think these guys who have been mastering calculus, programming, partial differential equations and whathaveyou are incapable of learning basic accounting? Their time at Los Alamos was WAY more important to real-life success, as it allowed them to make all these contacts (which they have bragged about 'leveraging' repeatedly) such as with DoD, Honeywell, Boeing, GE, etc as we've been seeing these past years. Leveraging a network like that is pretty darn 'business savvy' if you ask me.
When people were debating the NLT Q3 vs 6-9 month issue, I said that it was probable that they would be done/ ready for commercialization Q3 but would do the grand unveiling at one of the expos. There are many late fall (don't think it was this specific one) but it seems to be confirmation of their schedule/timeline, IMO. I'm still very positive on the company… really hoping I can scrounge enough these next months to at least get back to my old levels before the big pop. [Had to sell some cause we moved and I wanted more of a cushion; plus bought tires.] Last quarter was pretty rough, but I think we'll see some of that missing revenue appear in the coming months. Goodness knows big corporations (and the gov't) move SLOW so I'm not totally shocked… the biggest expense that made it ugly was just that warrant extension- which had to have been for good reason, since these guys have historically been EXTREMELY frugal in the past. I haven't heard much discussion on the matter and don't know enough about warrants to comment… I thought the warrant was so they give us money, not we pay out more. Perhaps they are expecting a greater return down the road.
Me!
That's the "million dollar question" lol
You're not looking back near far enough.
Mark Cola and Vivek Dave have been working in this field for over 20 years each. The technology stems from their work at Los Alamos, which they patented. See the patent links on this page. They developed/are developing their modules in-house (it's proprietary), and it is a real/physical piece of machinery that has been in Beta Testing for a year- one module with GE the other with Honeywell. I've seen photos of it (at the first Morris talk) and at this last conference call, Greg Morris of GE Aviation said it's working.... go back and take a listen... he talked about how incredible it is to be able to verify each layer of the build, and mentioned that now that they have all that data, they need to figure out what to do with it. This is why they signed those Adurant and Materialise agreements. They signed an agreement with Materialise so they can better integrate it with the majority of 3D printers, who use Materialise software. This may also be in order to get that closed-loop control (to where Sigma's feedback actually changes the parameters of the machine so it corrects on the fly) down the line. The Adurant agreement is to help manage the ridiculous amount of data that they generate. As of now, their units are standalone units, supposedly compatible with any 3D printing system; or welding, for that matter, however because it's standalone and not coming as a part of the machine (yet) they signed with Materialise to make sure it integrates.
In the future, they may license the tech to the main 3D printer makers so that it would be part of the machine itself.
Also- their first version of IPQA is commercialized, and if you go back and look at some of their published papers, it shows pictures of what a weld looks like without IPQA and what it looks like with IPQA and explains a lot more about the technology. I'm at work and the firewall won't let me post the link but someone can go on the sigma page and get it.
WOW- just realized
We were at .07 this time last year and ran all the way to .275 by November, without a specific catalyst (that I recall) other than a conference that got things moving the month before.
I've been here since May, just forgot how quickly it happened.
I know it probably won't happen that way again (at least for awhile), but it's a nice thing to remember that anything can happen in this game.
I hear ya....I had to sell shares to buy tires and a table cause my 1st check of the school year doesn't come in for another week. :/ I'm now 35k shares off my ideal #. Still have my old core from last summer though. Tried to flip the profit last winter; wish I'd stayed sold at .275 and waited for the drop....bought back way too early. Live and learn.
The IPQA from 2012 was commercialized as "Quality Sentinel" and I believe was what Boeing incorporated into their standards. [See my previous post on this.]They did miss on the 2013 call though. While it would be nice to have more directors (and I do think that is a goal... they have mentioned it in past) I don't see it happening until they are ready to uplist and/or have more revenues under their belt. We have nothing without Mark/Vivek and I don't see them giving up control at this stage in the game (nor would I really want them to.) I believe one of the three new jobs had something to do with business development, which should free up Mark a bit more to focus on the final stages of commercialization, as you were saying.
It's fair to express opinions/concerns at the shareholder meeting-(that's what it's for)- and they did listen last year with bringing in O'Mara... perhaps they'll add one or two more but I'm not seeing 6. It would be too unpredictable at this stage, and if someone gets canned or jilted after a bad quarter (like this last one) it would end badly for everyone, since they're the brains behind this whole operation. Just my two cents. Also bear in mind they would cost more $$ (or shares).
I hope otherwise, but it's entirely possible that we'll have another not so great quarter or two before commercialization really shows... It seems like a lot of revenue is missing from their previous statements, so unless someone was WAY off, it ought to show up eventually- but no guarantees when it will post (or if... though that's a pretty darn big discrepancy not to see SOMEthing). I'd be happy with the pps just holding steady awhile... Q1 2015 is my "show me the money" deadline- based on their timeline of commercialization, seems like the best bet.
To re-iterate...
This is BS- their first IPQA machine was commercialized. It was called "Quality Sentinel" and I believe is the one that was used by Boeing.
Quote:
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Quality Sentinel®
The realization of B6 Sigma's IPQA® technology. The solution to your manufacturing quality needs.
Quality Sentinels have been deployed to manufacturing sites in the US and Europe. We work with end users and machine tool builders spreading IPQA® to high value-added manufacturing around the globe.
DataSheets
PC-based platforms
QS - standalone Quality Sentinel system for end users seeking a custom retrofit for aging machine tools requiring updated quality monitoring technology
eQS - embedded Quality Sentinel system for OEM’s seeking the latest in under-the-hood quality monitoring solutions
PLC-based platforms
uQS - micro-Quality Sentinel system for dedicated uni-specific, process parameter quality monitoring solutions
QSneo - (new equipment option) Quality Sentinel system for OEM’s needing predictive maintenance capability solutions to improve (extended warranty) return on net assets
NOTE: All QS products include The Frontiersman™ data acquisition and visualization software modules as well as The Scout™ data analysis software module
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.b6sigma.com/index.php?page=products
The Boeing work from 2012:
http://sigmalabsinc.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=67&cntnt01origid=77&cntnt01returnid=59
This is BS- their first IPQA machine was commercialized. It was called "Quality Sentinel" and I believe is the one that was used by Boeing.
Totally agree- and great post!
I should have clarified- I know they will be important pre-certification (and may even be a means to certification)- just wondering if we are more likely to see a small order (say, for 5-10 PrintRites initially) before GE (or Honeywell) bets the farm and spends tens of millions, if that makes sense.
Is it possible...
we won't get a contract til it's certified?
Last year, according to Alanthill, the shareholder meeting was like 3 people (he being one of them) and he got to go to a lunch with I think Thacker.
Valerie Vekkos is a consultant who previously handled their investor info- I talked to her once; she is/was part time.
There is a very small chance my husband and this Additive Manufacturing group he just started may be going to Chicago for a pre-conference workshop at one of those big summit/expos Sept. 9... if he does I will let you know what I hear- though he will be promoting himself not Sigma; the name may be thrown about. They are seeking funding from their dept, idk if it'll pan out.
A bit more about what Darrow IR does:
Client Consultation and Collaboration
•Enables client to understand relevant perceptions of the investment community •Feedback reports periodically and following IR activities
•Enables Darrow Associates to understand the client’s business and industry
•Provides the critical elements necessary for Darrow Associates to work with client in creating appropriate investment messages
•Capital markets issues: raising capital, mergers and acquisitions, etc. •Valuation analysis and peer group positioning
•Investment community speech and media training
•Crisis communications
Investment Community Outreach
•Targeting with proprietary and subscription databases to reach appropriate investment community constituencies depending on peer group, company size and investor-specific qualifications
•Retail investor outreach
•Sell-side analyst and investment bank investor conference targeting •Investor roadshows
•Conference call/web cast management
•Analyst/Investor days
•Annual shareholders’ meeting
•Online strategies and podcasting events
•Investment community perception studies
•Contact list management
•Back office functions, including fulfillment of investor information requests
•Crisis communications
•Shareholder identification/stock watch
Media Outreach
•List development/management for business and trade media as well as for industry analysts – broadcast, print and online
•Relationship management for media – broadcast, print and online
•Product launches
•Media tours and roadshows
•Trade show participation
•Ghost writing
•White papers
•Podcasting events
Collateral Material Development
•Creation and ongoing adaptation of investment appeals
•Press releases
•Fact sheets
•Investor slideshow presentations
•Conference call and speech script writing
•IR section of Web site
•Annual reports
•Other shareholder material
•Proprietary analyst research report
Corporate Governance and Regulatory Advice
•Best practices for small companies as well as accelerated filers
•Regulation Full Disclosure (“Reg FD”) policy
•Safe harbor consultation
•Financial results guidance issues
•Proxy and other shareholder issues; Information agent
•Initial public offering and pre-IPO consultation and preparation work, including spin-offs and carve-outs
•Exchange listing selection •Stock splits
Corporate Communications
•Internal strategy development
•Creation of correspondence, collateral materials and Web site content
•Community relations and public affairs
•Leadership training
•Corporate branding
•Corporate advertising
Idk how much they cost, mind you, but doesn't sound like a bad slate of services, IMO.
At least his credentials are legit...
Chris Witty
Chris Witty brings nearly 15 years of capital markets, corporate finance and investor relations experience to Darrow Associates, with a concentration of work in the energy, industrial and automotive industries. Before representing companies in these sectors through a professional investor relations agency, he was Assistant Treasurer at Star Gas Partners (NYSE: SGU), where he was responsible for mergers and acquisitions, financial planning, investor relations and various treasury functions. Prior to that, he was an equity research analyst at Lazard Freres & Co. as part of the Industrials team and has also done research on the alternative energy and automotive at UBS Warburg and Goldman Sachs. In addition, he has held senior roles in finance, strategy, M&A and business development at General Motors/Delphi Automotive.
Mr. Witty received a Masters of Business Administration from the Darden Graduate Business School, University of Virginia.
http://darrowir.com/team.php
I kind of like him. He's very direct. [It wasn't a totally direct question and he answered what was asked]. I think it's nice he asked if he was looking for a job. That's weirdly encouraging to me... but I prefer frankness to canned/fluff responses.
I wonder if the unregistered investor was German? [EOS + Berlin Exchange, maybe?] Could explain why they included the 'we don't know anybody' bit.
That would be good, except in my notes from the talk I saw him do in Florence he called the nozzle a "multi-hundred dollar part" (not thousand.) Just FYI. Still, at $400 (random #) x 100 nozzles/month, that's almost 1/2 million a year which would at least help any burn rate til we get sales of PrintRite.
Pit... wait it out til the next one, IMO. You'll be kicking yourself in a few days.
Maybe the 'click charge' they envisioned?
I don't get it...We definitely have a patent on this one... See the inspect patent. Is is because it's outside the US?
Hey wow! Another callout! :D
That's weird.... that was the revision that included specifically more AM processes. Should still be covered by the 1st patent if it ever went to court- but would be nice to have it explicitly stated, IMO.
I'm still not seeing the rejection… is it one of those numbered codes?
Update: The one you referenced is the granted one… https://www.google.com/patents/US8354608?dq=ininventor:%22Vivek+R+Dave%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=zA87U_DOEMPf0gGWn4CADw&ved=0CFgQ6AEwBQ
Can't find the updated app though. [Very similar names.]
Where do you see non-final rejection?
I called their # last winter and got a menu with around 12 names and extensions. There are 4 full-time; and about 12 total between full time employees (Mark, Vivek, the new guy, and one other) and long-term consultants. There are also additional members of the BOD, mostly retired scientists and a general. They just hired a new guy- someone posted the link a couple weeks back, and have 3 other new openings posted on linkedin- probably filled by now, but not sure.
Your link didn't work for me, but I googled. Reposted here:
http://web.ornl.gov/info/ornlreview/v46_2-3_13/article03.shtml
Sounds expensive. But may be the LONG term future- that depends on many variables… I don't think it's an immediate threat though.
Think about how long it's taken AM to go from Los Alamos to today.
Ten years to get to rapid prototyping…
another 20 to get to our fuel nozzles.
Neutron inspection is a whole diff. ballgame, IMO- things that work in a research laboratory environment take a long time to become practical/cost effective. He mentions that:
More Highlights...
Timeline for AM Standards:
Geometrical tolerance, tensile strength, size, length, and angle dimensional tolerances=2014-15
Process monitoring 2016-18
Importance:
"Due to the nature of AM, where the basic principle to build products is by successive addition of material, products produced by AM-technologies will show different values of the material properties depending on the parameter set-up used during manufacturing. This makes the evaluation and quality management of the products complicated and maybe even unpredictable, which is unacceptable for, for example the aeronautical and medical industries."
Challenges:
"Develop materials’ consistency and repeatability e.g. fixing
process parameters.
• Analyse material properties of different materials and multi- materials using AM techniques, including their validation.
Develop in-process monitoring and control methodologies and systems including techniques for reducing the requirements for post-processing activities.
• Investigate in-situ sensors to provide non-destructive evaluation and allow for early detection of flaws/defects."
…GE or no GE-sounds to me like Sigma will be critical for compliance with AM standards. I hope it doesn't take til 2016, but perhaps GE/Honeywell/etc will simply be ahead of the curve by adopting early :)
As of last year, I'm pretty sure they were leasing from a business incubator, where they got access to a private office, conference room, and 30,000 sqft of shared industrial space, which only they and maybe another used, based on the types of companies that were there. Idk if they kept that up or not though…. I can't remember how I found it. Will try to look it up.
I have never seen a stock at 0 all day (that wasn't frozen). That's crazy!