Start-up Solido, from Rosh HaAin, which develops a desktop printer for 3D printing, has raised between $6-8.5 million from Fortissimo Capital Fund. Following the investment, Yuval Rachmilevitz, who was formerly CEO of Riverhead Networks (which was purchased by Cisco) and Olive Software, was appointed as Solido’s CEO. Among Solido’s chief stock holders are Argoquest, which is run by Jason Barzilai (one of the founders of computing giants Packard Bell). Another stock holder is Robogroup, which distributes Solido’s products to the education market.
The 3D models produced by Solido’s products are essential in today’s R&D procedures. According to a report by consulting firm Gartner, 3D printers will become commonplace hardware in businesses and even in private homes. Gartner assesses that “by 2011 the number of 3D printers in private homes will grow by 100% in comparison to 2006. The technology allows users to send a 3D model to the printer, who produces the model. This technology allows manufacturers to produce models of a product design and forgoes the need to hire the services of model builders.”
Pete Basiler, Gartner research manager, said in an interview to BusinessWeek that “following the steep decrease in 3D printer costs, nearly any company can afford such a printer, the result being an increase in usage.”
Solido’s technology allows to quickly, easily and automatically create plastic 3D models. The models are constructed out of a stiff PVC-based plastic, which laminated and flexible. The boards are produced very accurately and are strong and durable, which is why they are adequate for all design stages – from concept to construction and functional tests. The production process doesn’t use any chemical products, which makes it very green and environment-friendly. The models can be put through many mechanical processes, drilling and painting and will not suffer wear and tear or fade over time.
Yuval Cohen, partner and founder of Fortissimo, said: “Solido offers an advanced and unique solution, both in price and quality fitting for the office environment. 3D Printers will soon become an inseparable part of product design, and will become standard equipment on any engineer’s or designer’s desk and become an integral part of technical education in various educational facilities.”
Translated by Itai Rosenbaum
its amazing ! unbelivble