Stratasys 3D Printing Solutions Integral to Launch New Light-Weight, Solar Powered 'e-floater' Electric Scooter

Stratasys 3D Printing Solutions Integral to Launch New Light-Weight, Solar Powered 'e-floater' Electric Scooter

BADEN BADEN, Germany, December 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

     "We would have not been able to take this product from development to launch without
  using Stratasys 3D printing to develop a working prototype - it's as simple as that,"

                           Oliver Risse, Floatility's founder 

    Fully-functional 3D printed prototypes produced 50% faster using both FDM and PolyJet

       3D printing technologies from Stratasys in comparison to silicon molding  

    Stratasys EMEA, a subsidiary of Stratasys Ltd [http://www.stratasys.com ].
(Nasdaq:SSYS), the 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions company, today
announced that German start-up business, Floatility GmbH, has developed a
first-of-its-kind, lightweight, solar-powered, electric scooter using both Stratasys
PolyJet and FDM 3D printing technology.

(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151215/295932 )

(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151215/295933 )

(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151215/295934 )

    With the objective to 'redefine the modern way of travelling in cities worldwide', the
'e-floater' scooter houses an electric-motor and drives on three wheels, enabling users to
stand upright and ride freely without physical exertion. As an 'intelligent' vehicle, the
e-floater is also able to communicate to its owner in real time where it is located and
the condition it is in.

    In order meet the product's launch date of November, Floatility utilized both
Stratasys FDM and PolyJet 3D printing technologies throughout the product development
phase to create a working prototype. An additional benefit was that this was achieved
significantly more cost-effectively than using traditional methods.

    "The need to build prototypes that exactly resembled the final product and that would
enable us to test everything thoroughly was vital to the successful launch of this product,
" says Oliver Risse, Floatility's founder. "3D printing was essential in this regard as it
allowed the team to physically test the design and concept of e-floater as if it were the
final product. This not only sped up the product development cycle, but dramatically
reduced our product development costs. We would have not been able to take this product
from concept to launch without using Stratasys 3D printing solutions to develop a working
prototype - it's as simple as that."

    Developing an advanced prototype that accurately resembles the final product 

    As well as improved time and cost efficiencies, the decision to use multiple Stratasys
3D printing technologies was also based on the capability to combine different materials
in one print, which enabled the prototype versions to comprise both soft and hard
materials.

    This saw the team produce soft components such as the tail- and front lights, wheels
and grips on the PolyJet-based Objet500 Connex3 Color Multi-material 3D Printer
[http://www.stratasys.com/3d-printers/production-series/connex3-systems ], while the
super-tough components were 3D printed using the mechanically-strong and UV stable,
FDM-based, ASA material on the Stratasys Fortus 450 3D Production System
[http://www.stratasys.com/3d-printers/production-series/fortus-380-450mc ].

    According to Risse, the less favourable alternative would have been to use silicon
molding to create the prototype. "This was not ideal for a number of reasons," he says.
"Not only would it have entailed an assembly of up to 20 parts, but the costs would have
been significantly higher and the production time would have been double to that
achievable with 3D printing."

    "The e-floater is a perfect example of how 3D printing enables designers and inventors
to turn their concepts into fully-operational products quickly and cost-effectively,"
concludes Andy Middleton, President, Stratasys, EMEA. "In this case, the blend of both our
core 3D printing technologies proved instrumental in bringing another exciting and
innovative product to market and, as a company, we're delighted to play a part in helping
Floatility - and other start-up businesses like them - bring their ideas to products."

    For more than 25 years, Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ:SSYS) has been a defining force and
dominant player in 3D printing and additive manufacturing - shaping the way things are
made. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Rehovot, Israel, the company empowers
customers across a broad range of vertical markets by enabling new paradigms for design
and manufacturing. The company's solutions provide customers with unmatched design freedom
and manufacturing flexibility - reducing time-to-market and lowering development costs,
while improving designs and communications. Stratasys subsidiaries include MakerBot and
Solidscape and the Stratasys ecosystem includes 3D printers producing prototypes and
parts; a wide range of 3D printing materials; parts on-demand via Stratasys Direct
Manufacturing; strategic consulting and professional services; and Thingiverse/GrabCAD
communities with 5+ million free design components, printable files. With 3,000 employees
and 800 granted or pending additive manufacturing patents, Stratasys has received more
than 30 technology and leadership awards. Visit us online at: http://www.stratasys.com
[http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stratasys.com&esheet=51201315&newsitemid=20151019005020&lan=en-US&anchor=www.stratasys.com&index=3&md5=6bb1382c18124e110bbed622f65b0f00 ]
or http://blog.stratasys.com
[http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.stratasys.com&esheet=51201315&newsitemid=20151019005020&lan=en-US&anchor=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.stratasys.com&index=4&md5=cfdf3d9197a210017c5fdf7cdb6de799 ]
.

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    Photo:
    http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151215/295932

    http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151215/295933

    http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151215/295934

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151215/295932
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Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151215/295934
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Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151215/295933
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Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151215/295934
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Stratasys Ltd.