Arrk buys Aussie firm, forms French alliance
OSAKA, JAPAN — Major prototyper and toolmaker Arrk Corp. has entered the Australian product-development market, formed an alliance in France and added two large-frame stereolithography systems in England.
Osaka-based Arrk acquired Silhouette Pty. Ltd. of Melbourne, Australia, in early April. Terms were not disclosed.
Silhouette employs 37 and recently expanded into a 12,000-square-foot facility in Hawthorn, Australia, with advanced rapid-tooling capabilities, including injection molding and metal-casting systems.
Silhouette was established in 1990 and, three years later, purchased a large computer-controlled vacuum casting machine that changed the firm from an industrial design consultancy into a key rapid prototyper.
Arrk has linked with the Larher firm of Paris, a leading rapid prototyping and tooling business. Larher will benefit from services available from the Gloucester, England, operations of Arrk Product Development Group Ltd.
Larher employs 45, has significant laser sintering capacity and helps develop new products for automotive, aerospace, telecommunications and household applications.
Patrick Larher, who formed the business in 1964, continues as managing director. The firm specializes in prototype and serial tooling for modeling, rapid prototyping and mold making.
Arrk's French project adviser, Sylvie Demanee, and her operation will relocate across Paris — from Orsay, France, to the Larher production site at Herblay, France.
In addition, Arrk in Gloucester added two SLS systems from 3D Systems Corp. of Valencia, Calif., increasing its number in Europe to 15 machines.
Davis-Standard offers technical services
PAWCATUCK, CONN. — Davis-Standard Corp. has combined the resources of its technical center and small-systems facility under one organization.
Customers visiting the small-systems lab now will have access to the processing, resin and equipment knowledge provided by Davis-Standard process engineers and technicians. John Christiano, director of extrusion process technology, will oversee the operations of both facilities.
The facilities, located next to each other at Davis-Standard's primary manufacturing facility in Pawcatuck each have a range of extrusion equipment for customer trials and product development relating to all processes.
