Additive Manufacturing Industry Expert Terry Wohlers visits Paramount

Paramount recently had the opportunity to host additive manufacturing industry expert Terry Wohlers at its Langhorne, PA facility. Mr. Wohlers is well known for his contributions as an industry consultant, author, and analyst, and is a frequent speaker to rapid prototyping symposiums throughout the world.

Mr. Wohlers, President of Colorado-based Wohlers Associates, Inc., visited Paramount in January and found himself quite surprised by the extensive manufacturing that occurs within the facility. “The direct digital manufacturing activity is of most interest to me,” Wohlers said. “It has tremendous potential and I can tell Paramount is playing a leading role in the advancement of this technology.”

Wohlers was equally pleased upon seeing Paramounts contribution in the manufacturing of the Micro Air Vehicle (MAV). Calling it “impressive” after previously having seen it only by photograph, Wohlers went on to say, “The fact that some of the most complex parts for it are being manufactured using laser sintering technology underscores the potential of direct digital manufacturing.”

While Wohlers and Paramount’s President and CEO, Jim Williams, have been long time acquaintances, this was Mr. Wohlers’ first visit to Paramount and its affiliate product design-engineering firm Definitive Design. Both attended the EuroMold 2008 conference last December in Frankfurt, Germany where Williams anchored the “Factory of the Future: Manufacturing by Additive Fabrication” conference. Wohlers walked away from the conference with anticipation, believing this exciting new technology
“…Is going to become very big.”

Having authored over 350 pieces on engineering and manufacturing automation and consulted with over 100 organizations spanning the globe, Wohlers holds an Honorary Doctoral Degree of Mechanical Engineering from Central University of Technology, Free State (South Africa) and is a Fellow of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Terry Wohlers’ expertise in the direct digital manfacturing industry is unequivocal, and having the ability to impress him with our capabilities and industry presence was “very big” to everyone at Paramount indeed.