Replies to post #150821 on Liquidmetal Technologies Inc (LQMT)

[joshuaeyu]

"Intimate Customer Support"

This is one step in the right direction to elaborate the "Unique Value Add".

https://www.liquidmetal.com/customers/

The language spelled out here appears to be "drafted" by LQMT personnel but most importantly "authorized" by the customer. Vendor draft message signed by customer is very typical in marketing world. Hardest part is to have "OK" by the customer. "OK" does take time for up the food chain approval.


ConMed had an ambitious goal to break the mold in a crowded IP space—a challenge that could not be met with traditional steel fabrication. Liquidmetal’s strength, elasticity, dimensional accuracy, and out-of-the-gate finish empowered us to create a new surgical solution that may have otherwise been impossible—all within our cost requirements. Liquidmetal’s attentiveness in design engineering support enabled us to get from an initial concept to a well-engineered component in just 20 days. Then after a four-week prototype tool lead time, I had first shots in my hand. Liquidmetal hit every deliverable they committed to and enabled us to test our device in a clinical setting early in our development process. At every step, it has been clear that Liquidmetal genuinely cares about our success.
– Mason Williams, Sr. Mechanical Engineer


Zyris has revolutionized the dental experience for both doctor and patient with Isolite—a dental isolation unit that enhances visibility, moisture control, patient safety, and clinical results. But, we were compelled to make the device even better. A major hurdle was finding a way to overcome design limitations posed by the product control base’s titanium housing. Isolite’s next-generation required a new material and process capable of yielding high tolerances for insert molding while offering corrosion resistance to hospital-grade disinfectants and spring-like properties for assembly—all at a cost comparable to titanium. We found that solution in Liquidmetal. Working in partnership with their team helped ensure the design success of Isolite i3. Liquidmetal did more than share knowledge; they provided in-depth evaluations of components and dimensional reporting on elements that were critical to product development. They were very positive, professional, and attentive every step of the way.
– Brian Halleck, Sr. Engineer

[The Paraclete]

As far as Conmed being a customer...

Even though it's true that LQMT lists ConMed as a customer, it's important to note that there are two distinct types of customers. 1) There are customers who have ordered relatively few prototype parts - numbering only in the several hundreds to a few thousands - parts that undergo extensive testing anywhere from months to a year or more; and 2) there are customers who, after the completion of successful testing, sign a multi-year contract for regular production parts. Those contracts result in parts orders that will number in the many tens or hundreds of thousands (or more) parts each year. At this point in time, we do not know which type of customer relationships exists between ConMed and LQMT.

ConMed stated that "Liquidmetal hit every deliverable they committed to and enabled us to test our device in a clinical setting early in our development process." I'm sure you recall that Lockheed-Martin was once a customer (for missile canards) and worked with LQMT for about 3 years. In the end, they never went beyond the stage of being a customer that only ordered and tested prototype parts.

It's too soon too start celebrating. After all, if LQMT signed a contract with ConMed for full production parts, instead of just prototype parts, wouldn't we have seen a PR to that effect? Such news isn't likely to infringe on a NDA.

[Spartan]

Yeah, I was expecting to see Martin Guitar listed as a customer. Seems like a great connection from a marketing perspective. Hmm, marketing dropped the ball again.