Incodema: Industrial additive manufacturing at CES 2014
by Daniel O'Connor
January 10, 2014
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Incodema's metal printing part of a gun
Incodema's metal printing part of a gun
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Incodema print real metal working gears
Incodema print real metal working gears
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They don't stop at DMLS either they're a full service provider
They don't stop at DMLS either they're a full service provider
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Incodema's metal printing part of a gun
Incodema print real metal working gears
They don't stop at DMLS either they're a full service provider
The 3D Printing TechZone here at International CES 2014 show floor is packed full of desktop printers, the consumer clientele of this show means we don’t see any of the mammoth additive manufacturing machines we were privy to Euromold or TCT Show.
There are two companies here trying to temper the hype of these undoubtedly impressive sub $5,000 machines by educating the CES 2014 visitors about additive manufacturing as a 30 year old industry not just an over night success. One of those companies is us, the other is Incodema Group.
In amongst all of the plastic Eiffel Towers and octopuses is an established service bureau with countless years of experience, showing real world, additive manufactured parts from industrial SLS, DSLM, FDM and just about any other AM material you care to mention.
You might think it strange for them to be at such a consumer focussed show but we can assure you, seeing as we are just across the aisle, their stand has been at least three deep at all times. In fact, this piece was supposed to be written two days ago but such has been the popularity of the Incodema stand James Hockey, Business Development Manager, has not had chance to talk.
James along with the rest of the Incodema Group team have tens of years of additive manufacturing experience. James alone has amassed over 20 years at companies such as Laser Modeling Inc., GPI Prototype, Neomek Inc., and Directed Manufacturing. This is a serious manufacturing service provider.
“We’re really being driven by the aerospace industry at the moment, it’s a whole new way to manufacture parts. We’ve been able to manufacture parts for them that have previously been a five piece assembly down to one part.” James told us, “There are companies out there who are using us to manufacture tens of thousands of parts a year, anything from as simple as a gear and some parts we’re not even sure what they’re being used for, but they’re going out there and being used in the field.”
But how have Incodema, such an industrial focussed group, found such a consumer led tradeshow?
“The biggest benefit of being here at CES, other than being the only service provider here, is being able to educate people on what is real. There’s a false perception with the term 3D Printing, it leads people to believe that its printing happening, which makes them think the parts are fake. What they get when they come to our stand is real parts, this is a real manufacturing process.”
James continued, “The hardest thing to get people to understand is that this is a direct process, they come over here and see the parts and say things like “this has been sand casted after printing”, no, this is a finished product right off the machine, fully assembled. It takes them a while but they do eventually get it.”
Incodema Group have spotted what they believe to be a gap in the market left by GE’s acquisition of Morris Technologies. They estimated that GE’s purchase means that around 50% of the machines in the contract metal additive manufacturing market have been removed.
This new gap in the market has led to the Incodema Group forming a new company forged out of Incodema Inc. and Iwin-RP to create Incodema3D. The aim for Incodema3D is to rapidly acquire 50 metal machines and over 50 plastic machines. Years of industry experience will allow Incodema3D to develop strong relationships and rapidly advance. Together with its strategic partners, which includes Cornell University’s Hod Lipson- Incodema3D is aiming to quickly become the industry leader.
