Stratasys announced today that its founder and chairman, Scott Crump, has been inducted into IndustryWeek magazine’s Manufacturing Hall of Fame for his work in 3D printing, joining other individuals recognized for their contribution to U.S. manufacturing.

Scott Crump, Stratasys Founder and Chairman (Photo: Stratasys Ltd.)

Crump is the inventor of the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) method of 3D printing, the most widely used additive manufacturing process. Earlier this month, Crump became the chairman of Stratasys Ltd., a new corporate entity formed by the merger of Stratasys Inc. and Objet Ltd.

3D printing (or additive manufacturing) has become more mainstream in the last few years, and although many believe it is a new process, it has existed for 25 years. Formerly called “rapid prototyping,” 3D printing was developed originally for prototyping purposes. However it is now widely used as a manufacturing process for producing finished goods in low volume.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by IndustryWeek for the achievements our team has made,” said Crump. “This recognition demonstrates the impact that 3D printing is having on the manufacturing industry and it portends a bright future for the technology.”

2012 marks the fourth year of IndustryWeek’s Manufacturing Hall of Fame. The publication accepted nominations from its readers and chose ten inductees, including leaders from Boeing Co., Lockheed Martin Corp. and others. Past Honorees include such names as Steve Jobs, Lee Iacocca and Jack Welch. The individuals recognized have a history of significant achievements, and they are examples of character, talent, drive and productive work that resulted in outstanding success in their respective organizations. In general, inductees’ achievements fall into one or more of the following categories:

• Significantly improving manufacturing efficiency and productivity through their process and/or technology innovations.
• Creating manufacturing companies — and even entire industries — from the ground up, through their product ideas and/or innovative approaches to doing business.
• Establishing widely accepted best practices in operational areas such as (but not limited to) management, product development, safety, purchasing, quality, and supply chain and logistics.
• Setting new standards for manufacturers in areas such as sustainability and corporate responsibility.
• Revitalizing organizations and operations through continuous improvement efforts and/or innovative business practices.
• Influencing and supporting as well as advocating for the cause of U.S. manufacturing through their research, writings, activism, policies or thought leadership.

For more information on the Hall of Fame Awards, visit IW Hall of Fame.

For more information on Stratasys, visit www.Stratasys.com.

Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSYS) is the corporate entity formed in 2012 by the merger of 3D printing companies Stratasys Inc. and Objet Ltd., based in Minneapolis, Minn. and Rehovot, Israel. The company manufactures 3D printers and materials for prototyping and production. Prior to merging, the two companies’ revenues totaled $277 million for 2011. The company’s patented FDM^® and inkjet-based PolyJet^® processes produce prototypes or manufactured goods directly from 3D CAD files or other 3D content. Systems include affordable desktop 3D printers for idea development, a range of systems for prototyping, and large production systems for direct digital manufacturing. The company’s range of 120 3D printing materials is the widest in the industry and includes over 100 proprietary inkjet-based photopolymer materials and 10 proprietary FDM-based thermoplastic materials. Stratasys also manufacturers Solidscape 3D Printers and operates the RedEye On Demand digital-manufacturing service. The company has over 1000 employees, holds over 500 granted or pending additive manufacturing patents globally, and has received 19 awards for its technology and leadership. Online at: www.stratasys.com or http://blog.stratasys.com / www.objet.com or http://blog.objet.com

Stratasys and FDM are registered trademarks of Stratasys, Inc.

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