Fuji Photo and Stratasys Sign R&D Agreement

    MINNEAPOLIS--April 9, 2001--Rapid Prototyping systems maker Stratasys, Inc., announced it signed an agreement with Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Tokyo, to co-develop a rapid-prototyping-process refinement for use in Fuji's reusable pocket cameras. The project's goal is to produce finely detailed, ready-to-use pocket-camera components made of ABS plastic, using the FDM(R) process.
    "We chose Stratasys in part because their FDM process can build models from ABS plastic," says Yasunori Tanaka, Fuji Photo Film divisional manager. "ABS is important to us because it is very durable, can be functionally tested, and is the material from which many of our products are constructed."
    "We're excited about this joint development agreement," says Stratasys President S. Scott Crump. "And we look forward to working closely with Fuji Photo to develop the technology for this new application."
    Under the agreement, Stratasys will be responsible for research and development, and Fuji will be responsible for functionality verification. The agreement was facilitated by Marubeni Solutions Corp., Tokyo, who is Stratasys's largest distributor and works extensively with Fuji. During the course of the R&D project, Marubeni will help act as a liaison between Fuji and Stratasys, and it will coordinate communications between the two parties.