WILLIAMSF1 ORDERS TWO EOS LASER-SINTERING SYSTEMS

Krailling, Germany, February 2006 -- WilliamsF1 (Oxfordshire, UK), one of the world's leading Formula One race teams, has ordered two EOSINT P 385 systems from EOS. The order followed a thorough, six month technical assessment of the technology. Williams decided to keep the evaluation machine and has since ordered a second EOSINT P 385 system. Williams has also indicated its intent to acquire additional machines over the next three years.

"This investment gives us a significant increase in our ability to produce parts in very short timescales. We selected the EOSINT P 385 because it gives us the best combination of build speed, quality and component size, and we intend to make full use of the expanding range of materials that can be sintered on these machines", says Alex Burns, chief operating officer of WilliamsF1. 

Williams will use the laser-sintering technology from EOS for building prototypes for wind tunnel testing and mock-ups. The EOSINT P 385 will also be used to fabricate components for its new vehicles, such as the new FW28 racecar. The FW28, which was revealed in January 2006, is a large departure from Williams' previous designs. The laser-sintered prototypes were critical for wind tunnel testing since regulation changes forced Formula One teams to grapple with recouping power loss through aerodynamic efficiency gains.

"Formula One is a very interesting market for our e-Manufacturing solutions", stated Johann Oberhofer, COO of EOS. e-Manufacturing describes the fast, flexible and cost-effective production directly from electronic data. "In no other industry is the urge for speed in development and manufacturing more evident than it is in the racing industry."

Jim Fendrick, vice president North America, confirms the interest in laser-sintering of both plastic and metal parts. Fendrick stated, "Whether it is passenger cars or high performance racing, EOS is increasingly called upon for prototypes and production components." 

EOS and WilliamsF1 have also entered into a sponsorship agreement. Under the agreement, EOS has been designated "Promotional Partner of the WilliamsF1 Team". The collaboration demonstrates EOS's commitment and strengthens its position in the motor sport industry.

About EOS

EOS was founded in 1989 and is today the world leading manufacturer of laser-sintering systems. Laser-sintering is the key technology for e-Manufacturing. e?Manufacturing is used for the manufacture of products, patterns or tools in every phase of the product life cycle. EOS completed its last business year on September 30th, 2005 with revenues of 49 million Euro.

About WilliamsF1

WilliamsF1 is one of the world's leading Formula One teams, with 16 FIA Formula One World Championship titles and 113 Grand Prix victories to its credit. The company's core competencies are the design and manufacture of Formula One race cars, and the deployment of this expertise in running the team's entries into the Grand Prix each season.

www.eos.com

  Get a free CADinfo news feed here...