Lubrizol adds 3D printer Avid

Materials firm Lubrizol Corp. has acquired 3D printer Avid Product Development LLC for an undisclosed price.

In an Aug. 4 news release, officials with Lubrizol in Wickliffe, Ohio, said that Loveland, Colo.-based Avid "offers a unique blend" of 3D printing capabilities, including design for additive manufacturing and prototyping. Avid also offers production using powder bed fusion, fused filament fabrication and stereolithography, with expertise in various post-processing technologies.

"Lubrizol continues to invest in opportunities that bring new differentiated solutions to our customers," 3D Printing Solutions General Manager Gert-Jan Nijhuis said in the release. The acquisition of Avid "greatly enhances our ability as a 3D printing solution provider, offering complete product solutions from material development to printing and post processing services, delivering end-use products for our key markets," he added.

Avid founder Doug Collins said that, as a result of the acquisition, his firm "will have vast opportunities to demonstrate our capabilities in engineering, design and manufacturing with the support of an industry leader in materials development, applications and testing."

Avid serves customers in the footwear, consumer goods, industrial and medical markets. The firm won the 2019 Colorado Company to Watch award. Recently, Avid has designed and printed personal protection equipment (PPE) needed by healthcare workers and essential businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lubrizol employs almost 8,800 worldwide. The firm's Advanced Materials unit is a leading global supplier of TPU and other specialty materials.