Company Press Releases

News Release
For Immediate Release

Contact:
Bruce Lustig
Marketing Manager
(603) 429-9700, Ext. 221
blustig@solid-scape.com

Summary: Solidscape, Inc. Introduces new product, the PatternMaster™

April 10, 2000 (Merrimack, NH) - Solidscape, Inc. today announced that the company will introduce its new product, the PatternMaster™ pattern making system, at the Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing 2000 exhibition at the Rosemont Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois on April 11 -13, 2000. Specifically designed for the industrial market and featuring improved build times over existing Solidscape products, surface finish and accuracy, the PatternMaster fulfills the rapid prototyping market requirement for affordable cast-ready/tool-ready patterns.

"We are very excited about the speed of the PatternMaster," said David Bothwell, president and CEO of Solidscape. "In the industrial arena, time-to-market is critical to a product's success and by using the PatternMaster, manufacturers can stay in front of the continuous time to market compression. Our industrial users have repeatedly stated that our products' surface finish, accuracy and affordability are superior to other systems. But speed was a deterrent. With the introduction of the PatternMaster, Solidscape has overcome this challenge.

"The PatternMaster, priced at $76,900, complements the already successful ModelMaker II system. Based on the research we've done and from listening to our customers and prospects, we expect our sales revenue to double for the second consecutive year following the PatternMaster's start-shipment in June 2000."

Capable of layer thickness as fine as 0.0005 in. and holding a tolerance of 0.001 in. in the X, Y and Z axes, the PatternMaster meets a wide range of modeling and molding applications not addressed by other rapid tooling systems. With surface finish resolutions of 32-63 micro-inches (RMS), patterns require virtually no secondary finishing. The patterns produced are ideal for use with RTV silicone, epoxy-aluminum, investment casting, powdered metal, Kirksite™ and spray metal tooling molds.

"Users of the PatternMaster will be able to create patterns in real time, verify the design, and go to cast or tool processes the next day," said Bothwell. "Our customers can now achieve the accuracy, speed and precision that the market demands."

The PatternMaster runs in an office environment and interfaces with PC workstations using industry-standard CAD programs that output formats such as .STL, .SLC, .DXF, and OBJ. The materials used are non-toxic and facility modifications are not required.

Solidscape, Inc., a privately-held company, manufactures the ModelMaker and PatternMaster systems in Merrimack, New Hampshire, USA.

Further Information:
Bruce Lustig 603-429-9700, ext. 221 or blustig@solid-scape.com
David Bothwell 603-429-9700, ext. 202 or dbothwell@solid-scape.com
Graphic images of the PatternMaster and printed material available upon request.