3D Systems Will Sell Swiss Firm’s Polymers

3D Systems in Sylmar, which makes a machine that rapidly produces plastic models of parts and other products, said it became the exclusive U.S. distributor of chemicals made for its machine by Ciba-Geigy Ltd. of Switzerland.

3D Systems’ machine uses a mixture of lasers, ultraviolet light, liquid polymers and a computer to produce models of parts. 3D Systems contends the machine can make the models in a fraction of the time required with conventional materials such as modeling clay, and can be used to make models of parts used in cars, airplanes and hundreds of other products.

Under the agreement, 3D Systems will market the liquid polymer materials made by Ciba-Geigy that are used with 3D System’s equipment. It is analogous to a camera maker also selling film to its customers.

This is at least the third pact signed between 3D Systems and the Swiss company this year. In May, the companies signed a joint research and development agreement, and in September a Ciba-Geigy subsidiary, laser manufacturer Spectra-Physics in San Jose, agreed to sell 3D’s machine in Europe, Africa and the Mideast.