Fast Radius to host invite-only Application Launch Program specifically designed to identify and launch production applications with the Desktop Metal Production System.

Fast Radius, Inc. today announced a partnership with Desktop Metal to help companies accelerate the discovery and launch of applications on the Desktop Metal Production System, the world's fastest metal printer. Desktop Metal, based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is addressing the unmet challenges of speed, cost, and quality to make metal 3D printing an essential tool for engineers and manufacturers around the world. Headquartered in Chicago, Fast Radius' technology platform and manufacturing footprint help customers bring new products and supply chain models to market that are uniquely enabled by additive manufacturing ("3D printing").

As part of the partnership, Fast Radius will be one of the first companies to receive the Production System. The partnership also includes the development and execution of a Fast Radius Application Launch Program ("ALP") specifically targeting production applications with Desktop Metal's binder jetting technology.

The Fast Radius Application Launch Program is an invite-only, nine-month program where a cohort of non-competitive companies leverage the Fast Radius software platform and team of additive application engineers to identify, evaluate, design, and ultimately launch a production-grade application leveraging the latest additive technologies. Nearly 25 companies have participated in ALP, with dozens of production-grade applications identified and currently ramping. Now this proven methodology is being deployed to drive application discovery and launch with Desktop Metal.

"We are excited to partner with Fast Radius as one of our early customers for the Production System and look forward to working together on the Fast Radius Application Launch Program," said Ric Fulop, co-founder and CEO, Desktop Metal. "We are confident that this partnership will further accelerate the identification and development of pioneering applications enabled by the Production System."

"The Production System represents an entirely new manufacturing platform which will enable new part geometries, improved functional performance, and a more favorable cost structure for innovative product developers," said Lou Rassey, Chief Executive Officer, Fast Radius. "We look forward to working with Desktop Metal and our upcoming ALP participants to identify and launch new applications uniquely-enabled by the Production System."

In April, Fast Radius announced a $48M funding round led by UPS. Fast Radius customers include leading Fortune 500 companies across verticals, including automotive, industrial, aerospace, and consumer products.

The Production System is the world's fastest metal printing press for mass production with over 400 percent productivity over the closest binder jet alternatives and more than 100 times faster than laser powder bed fusion systems in the market. These systems are designed to print a broad range of alloys, including reactive metals such as titanium and aluminum. This process enables the use of metal powders that are 80 percent lower cost than laser powder bed fusion metals, delivering parts at 1/20th the cost.

The Fast Radius software platform, also known as the Fast Radius Operating System ("FROS"), supports customers across the product lifecycle and is a key enabler of the Fast Radius Application Launch Program. The platform helps customers identify potential applications, conduct engineering and economic evaluations, accelerate new product development, and ultimately manufacture industrial-grade parts in Fast Radius factories at scale with the latest additive technologies.