Advancing Industrial Polymer 3D Printing: The Strategic Partnership of CADvision and ETEC

As the landscape of additive manufacturing (AM) continues its rapid evolution towards industrialization, the synergy derived from robust partnerships and collaborations becomes increasingly vital. A prime example of such a powerful alliance is found in the enduring relationship between CADvision, a prominent French distributor and integrator, and ETEC, a key brand under the Desktop Metal umbrella. For nearly seven years, these two industry leaders have cultivated a shared vision, collaboratively driving the advancements in polymer additive manufacturing, particularly for demanding industrial applications across Europe and beyond.

To gain deeper insights into this successful partnership and understand their instrumental role in promoting and accelerating industrial-grade Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing technology, we had the privilege of speaking with key figures from both organizations. We sat down with Julien Markarian, the CEO of CADvision, and Manuel Delgado, the RSM and Head of Polymers in EMEA at Desktop Metal, to explore the intricacies of their collaboration and its profound impact on the AM ecosystem.

Leaders in Polymer Additive Manufacturing: Introducing the Visionaries

3DN: Could you tell us a little about yourself and your connection to 3D printing?

JM: I am Julien Markarian, the CEO of CADvision. For over 25 years, CADvision, based in France, has been at the forefront of additive manufacturing integration. Our expertise spans across various critical sectors, including industrial production, education and research, and the medical field. Our long-standing commitment has been to empower our clients by seamlessly incorporating AM solutions into their workflows, thereby enhancing their capabilities and driving innovation.

MD: I am Manuel Delgado, currently serving as the RSM and Head of Polymers in EMEA at Desktop Metal. My journey in additive manufacturing spans nine years, exclusively within the polymer industry. During this time, I’ve had the opportunity to delve into a diverse range of materials and equipment technologies, holding various leadership positions that have provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the market’s demands and future trajectory. My focus at Desktop Metal is on driving the adoption and expansion of our polymer solutions across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

ETEC’s Industrial Polymer Machines: Unmatched Capabilities for Production

3DN: What are the capabilities of ETEC’s industrial polymer machines? What kind of applications can you enable for customers?

JM: From CADvision’s perspective, ETEC polymer machines represent the pinnacle of what is currently available on the market for industrial applications. What truly sets them apart are their advanced material compatibility, achieved through strategic industrial partnerships. This allows ETEC platforms to handle a broad spectrum of highly sophisticated resins, delivering unparalleled scalability and repeatability – critical factors for true production environments. ETEC distinguishes itself as one of the few, if not the only, company capable of offering systems genuinely engineered for robust, high-volume production, characterized by exceptional build volumes and meticulous accuracy.

ETEC polymer machines boast several key differentiators that make them stand out against competitors in the polymer additive manufacturing space. Among these, the extensive variety of industrial-compatible resins available and the sophisticated quality management systems for these materials are paramount. Furthermore, the continually expanding capacity of their systems, exemplified by the groundbreaking Xtreme 8K – which offers an unprecedented build volume – unlocks a vast array of new applications across diverse industrial markets, from automotive and aerospace to consumer goods and medical devices. These capabilities empower customers to move beyond mere prototyping to actual end-part production with confidence and efficiency.

The Crucial Role of Material Selection in DLP 3D Printing

3DN: What role does material selection play in this ecosystem? What are the benefits of using ETEC for CADvision?

JM: Material selection is absolutely fundamental to the success of additive manufacturing, particularly within the DLP technology framework. At CADvision, our role as an integrator extends beyond simply supplying machines; it critically involves educating our customers on the nuances of material selection. We constantly stay abreast of the latest alternatives and the specific benefits each material offers, ensuring our clients make informed decisions tailored to their application requirements. In this regard, ETEC stands out as the most open technology for materials on the market, with a constantly expanding portfolio that includes cutting-edge solutions for various industrial needs. This openness allows us to provide maximum flexibility and innovation to our customers.

MD: The capabilities of materials are a decisive factor in enabling any specific application to reach its full potential. ETEC has meticulously optimized its offering by integrating top-tier industrial materials into its portfolio. This strategy involves active cooperation with some of the world’s leading material suppliers, alongside a strong internal commitment to growing our own material development capabilities. A testament to this commitment is our development of unique, breakthrough solutions such as FreeFoam®, which represents the world’s first truly 3D printable foam. This innovation alone opens up entirely new possibilities for lightweight, customizable, and high-performance applications, underscoring our dedication to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with polymer AM.

Understanding the Missions: CADvision and ETEC

3DN: Could you tell us more about the core missions of ETEC and CADvision?

JM: CADvision’s primary mission is to act as a crucial partner for our customers, assisting them in the successful setup and implementation of additive manufacturing as a strategic tool. Our goal is to significantly improve their production flexibility and introduce new avenues for innovation. We firmly believe that additive manufacturing is transitioning from a niche technology to a “must-have” capability, complementing more traditional manufacturing approaches. AM offers unprecedented shortcuts in design and production cycles, enabling novel designs and functionalities in an ever-growing number of new projects and existing product lines. However, widespread AM adoption requires highly skilled assistance to accelerate implementation. Potential users are often unaware of the full potential and viability of AM within their factories. The critical steps of identifying suitable projects and accurately estimating the Return on Investment (ROI) can be complex, often slowing down adoption. Therefore, being supported by a qualified and experienced partner like CADvision is undeniably the key to unlocking success and achieving rapid, impactful integration.

MD: ETEC, founded in 2002, holds a proud legacy as a world leader in polymer 3D printing technology, famously being the original creator of the world’s first DLP printer. Our mission is deeply rooted in making the 3D printing of end-use polymer parts accessible at scale to every engineer, designer, and manufacturer. We achieve this by providing solutions that are not only cost-competitive but also deliver exceptional speed and unparalleled quality. We are committed to democratizing high-performance additive manufacturing, enabling industries to transition from traditional methods to a more agile, efficient, and innovative production paradigm. Our focus remains on continuous innovation, ensuring our customers have access to the most advanced and reliable DLP solutions for their most challenging applications.

A Partnership Built on Growth and Shared Vision

3DN: How long has this partnership been in place, and what benefits have emerged from this collaboration?

JM: The enduring partnership between Desktop Metal (DM) and CADvision commenced in 2017, initially focusing on DM’s metal additive manufacturing solutions. The swift adoption of the first released system, the Studio, allowed CADvision to rapidly accumulate extensive experience in this burgeoning market segment. This early success laid a strong foundation. CADvision then enthusiastically embraced the successive strategic acquisitions made by the Desktop Metal group, a pivotal one being EnvisionTEC, which subsequently formed the basis for the innovative new ETEC line of polymer printers. This expansion into polymer AM further solidified our collaboration and broadened our offerings significantly.

CADvision chose ETEC and Desktop Metal as one of its primary partners because they consistently operate at the leading edge of additive manufacturing systems across a vast array of applications. For decades prior to the last one, CADvision primarily concentrated on distributing 3D printers for prototyping applications within R&D centers. The partnership with Desktop Metal was a transformative catalyst, enabling us to pivot from this somewhat niche market to the much larger and more complex realm of true industrial additive manufacturing. While mastering this larger market presented new challenges, the advanced technology and robust support from Desktop Metal and ETEC were absolutely critical in making this strategic shift successful and profoundly beneficial for both our company and our expanding client base.

DLP: The Ideal Technology for Industrial Polymer Parts

3DN: Why DLP? What are the advantages or difficulties of using DLP compared to other AM processes?

JM: Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology is exceptionally well-suited for unlocking vast opportunities within additive manufacturing, particularly for producing resin-based parts that meet stringent industrial application requirements. DLP represents a highly complementary approach to other plastic deposition methods, such as FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling). It introduces a different spectrum of materials, including advanced engineering resins, and enables the creation of exceptionally high-quality parts with superior surface finish and intricate details. These characteristics are paramount for components destined for industrial use, where precision, aesthetic quality, and mechanical performance are non-negotiable.

MD: DLP truly offers a unique combination of advantages within the diverse world of polymer 3D printing. Foremost among these are its remarkable surface quality, the ability to reproduce incredibly fine feature details, and its inherent repeatability, which is crucial for consistent production. However, a distinctive and compelling feature of DLP that sets it apart from many other polymer technologies is its exceptional high throughput and inherent scalability. This means DLP systems can produce parts faster and in higher volumes, making them ideal for serial production. As with any resin-based technology, a primary consideration or “downside” is the requirement for a post-processing workflow, which typically involves washing and curing. However, it’s important to note that this aspect of the process is currently undergoing rapid modernization, with the widespread introduction of automatic and semi-automatic solutions. These advancements are significantly streamlining post-processing, making the overall DLP workflow more efficient and user-friendly, thereby reducing labor and improving throughput for industrial applications.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Industrial AM Integration

3DN: Any last words for our readers?

JM: For any customer looking to successfully integrate additive manufacturing into their operations, choosing ETEC/Desktop Metal solutions backed by CADvision’s expertise is a guarantee of success. Our combined strength ensures that the adoption of AM progresses efficiently within your company, wherever it makes the most sense – be it for rapid prototyping, tooling, or end-use part production. We invite you to learn more about our comprehensive services and solutions by visiting us HERE.

MD: ETEC currently provides what we believe are the most comprehensive equipment solutions and material offerings tailored specifically for the industrial user. Our commitment to empowering our clients goes even further; we recently announced our pioneering Co-Location Production & Knowledge Transfer program. This initiative is designed to enable users worldwide to successfully adopt DLP technologies at scale, working directly hand-in-hand with our team of experts at our state-of-the-art facilities. This program offers an unparalleled opportunity for deep collaboration and accelerated learning, ensuring optimal implementation and utilization of our advanced systems. You can discover more about ETEC’s innovative technologies and our commitment to industrial additive manufacturing by visiting our website HERE.

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