Press Release
New Director Selected for Rapid Prototype Firm's European Office
The 3-Dimensional Services Group, Rochester Hills, MI-based engineering and rapid prototype build specialist, has announced the appointment of Martin Werdier as director of its European sales and service liaison office in Bad Homburg, Germany.Mr. Werdier, previously with Schneider Prototyping (Germany), producers of silicon molds, laser sintering and stereolithography models, and aluminum castings, will oversee the day-to-day operations of the office and be responsible for the continuing growth and expansion of the firm’s European customer base since the office was established approximately two years ago.
According to Mr. Werdier, prototyping practices in Germany and Europe are primarily small shops that target specific types of prototyping capabilities, that is, a narrrow range of fabrication disciplines, such as machining only, or cast and mold capabilities.“There are few shops here that have the extensive arsenal of a 3-Dimensional Services,” he says, “and those that have prototype stamping capabilities are rarer still. What we are able to do, controlling many processes all in-house, is first, to provide exceptional quality; and two, to turn projects around in two weeks that would traditionally be about 4 weeks here (Europe).Lead time improvements of about 30% for injection molding prototypes, and 50% for stamping fabrications are common, even factoring in the time to translate CAD files, communicate with 3-Dimensional headquarters in the U.S., and for typical two-day shipping of completed parts to customers.”
“Yes, there was skepticism at first, that a U.S.-based company could handle quality and deliver on time.To break down some of these barriers, our focus has been working withinternational customers that have a presence in Europe and the U.S. as a way to demonstrate ourcapabilities. These customers, the multi-national corporations with facilities in Europe and the U.S., have found it to be a big advantage of partnering with a prototype shop that has a European-based satellite office,” Werdier points out, “in that they are working with a contact, a project coordinator, on both continents, providing for accurate translations, and convenient engineering reviews, product analysis and evaluations, and point-of-need delivery locations if needed.”
“Additionally, our pricing has been competitive—more so when considering a favorable currency exchange rate.Our now proven track record, coupled with the office’s first-hand knowledge of the European manufacturing environment, will help us to expand our introduction of new prototype technologies, innovations, and expertise to our European manufacturing partners.”
The 3-Dimensional Services Group consists of Urgent Plastic Services, Urgent Design & Manufacturing as well as the group’s flagship company, 3-Dimensional Services.The three companies specialize in the design, engineering, analysis and rapid build of prototype parts.In just a little more than a decade in existence, the firms pioneered and are responsible for redefining the prototype process, by using the most advanced technologies, materials and ideas to produce prototype parts up to 70% faster than previously possible. The Group’s services include assembly, rapid modeling, casting, injection molding, laser processing (cutting and welding) CNC machining, metal fabrication, forming, stamping, high definition stamping and hydroforming operations.
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