Stratasys Announces Seventh Annual “Extreme Redesign” Contest By Dimension 3D Printing

Stratasys Inc. (NASDAQ: SSYS), today announced the launch of its Dimension brand’s seventh annual Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge. The contest challenges students worldwide to submit innovative designs, whether an entirely original concept, a new perspective on an existing product, or a work of art, animation or architecture.

Educators have attested that the annual design & 3D printing contest has made an impact on students. “Having the opportunity to set their sights on a goal, participate with other schools, and complete a challenging project…was life-changing for some students in this school, which is located in a lower socio-economic area of the city,” said Colin Reid, Vancouver Technical Secondary School, Vancouver, B.C.

Dimension will again award nine student winners either $2,500 or $1,000 scholarships in the categories of High School Engineering, College Engineering, and Art & Architecture. Designs will be evaluated based on creativity, usefulness, part integrity and aesthetics. Instructors of the three first-place student winners will receive a laptop computer for use in the classroom. Since the contest began, six years ago, more than $50,000 in scholarships have been awarded to students.

In addition to the above mentioned categories, this year’s contest will feature two bonus award categories in which students may compete for $250. The first bonus category asks students to create a fresh design twist on an existing building or bridge. The second bonus category challenges students to create an intriguing puzzle or game.

For an entry in any category to be competitive, the submission must:

• be a sound mechanical design
• be realistic and achievable
• include a clear written description of the design.

For video, photos, and descriptions of previous winning designs, visit Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge. For contest rules and regulations, visit ER Rules & Regulations.

Dimension, a brand of 3D printers by Stratasys, offers computer-aided-design (CAD) users a low-cost, networked alternative for building functional 3D models from the desktop. The printers build models layer-by-layer using ABS plastic, one of the most widely used thermoplastics in today’s injection-molded products. Dimension 3D printers allow users to evaluate design concepts and test models for form, fit, and function. Online at: www.dimensionprinting.com

Stratasys, Inc., Minneapolis, is a maker of additive manufacturing machines for prototyping and producing plastic parts. The company markets under the brands Fortus 3D Production Systems and Dimension 3D Printers. The company also operates RedEye On Demand, a digital manufacturing service for prototypes and production parts. According to Wohlers Report 2010, Stratasys supplied more additive manufacturing systems in 2009 than any other manufacturer, making it the unit market leader for the eighth consecutive year. Stratasys patented and owns the process known as FDM. ^® The process creates functional prototypes and manufactured goods directly from any 3D CAD program, using high-performance industrial thermoplastics. The company holds more than 285 granted or pending additive manufacturing patents globally. Stratasys products are used in the aerospace, defense, automotive, medical, business & industrial equipment, education, architecture, and consumer-product industries. Online at: www.stratasys.com

Dimension and Extreme Redesign are trademarks, and Stratasys and FDM are registered trademarks of Stratasys, Inc.