3D Systems expands into aero, medical

The news just keeps on coming — clearly, the engineering software space is in the throws of a massive acquisition binge. Today, 3D Systems announced that it has acquired Paramount Industries, a direct manufacturing and product development solutions provider to the aerospace and medical device industries. I’m not familiar with Paramount, so here’s what I found out: Paramount provides product development services, including product design and engineering, rapid prototyping, rapid tooling and direct digital rapid manufacturing technology. The company was founded in 1966, and initially made models — keep in mind that rapid prototyping is a relatively new development and model making used to be a big, specialized business — for consumer and industrial products. Today, Paramount makes precision parts from 3D CAD models using laser sintering (LS) and injection molding, and operates full-scale manufacturing in domestic and offshore facilities. Paramount’s product design and engineering services are provided by its affiliate, Definitive Design, while offshore manufacturing is done by another affiliate, TTM Technologies, with operations in Southeast Asia. 3D Systems says it will integrate Paramount’s manufacturing facilities and advanced tooling and assembly operations into its growing on-demand direct manufacturing services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.