Taiwan-based office automation machine and office furniture distributor Aurora on September 25 signed with US-based Stratasys in Shanghai, eastern China, for exclusive sales agent rights for Stratasys 3D printers in the China market, according to Aurora.
Aurora will initially market Stratasys' Idea series desktop 3D printers including Mojo and uPrint models, targeting enterprise R&D units, the company said. With training and technical support to be provided by Stratasys, Aurora will set up a marketing and after-sales maintenance system in the China market, the company indicated.
The global 3D printing market value in 2012 was estimated at US$2.1 billion, whereas the corresponding value in the China market was only CNY1 billion (US$158 million), Aurora cited the China 3D Printing Technology Industry Alliance as indicating. However, 3D printing demand in China is forecast to grow annually by at least 100% over the next three years and the market will become the largest around the world in 2016, Aurora said.
Use of 3D printing technology can enable manufacturers to reduce costs in proofing and mold design by about 50%, product design times by 70%, Aurora indicated.
Aurora entered the China market in 1993 and has established a network of more than 500 offices and logistics centers, as well as a staff of over 1,000, the company said.
