Re: Rumor! Is it true?

From: cwhovery@cswebmail.com
Date: Mon Nov 20 2000 - 20:58:53 EET


For what it is worth:
We had been very interested in a Helisys machines because I liked the appearance of the model for our architectual clients. Also the price/build volume/speed on these machines seems pretty good on the used market. I washoping to make a purchase before the end of the year and had solicited some prices on the used market.

However, during this process, It does seem that Helisys has closed it doors. I had been trying to get in touch with them for several weeks both via their e-mail and phone to get our "sample building" made as a demo. When I got no response I had started to inquire arround with Marshall and others Then in Geoff's "Rapid Prorotyping report online" there was a brief mention that the editors had learned that all employes had been laid off just as the SEC filing that was posted demonstrates.

I spoke with the people at Sibco and they said they are committed to supporting the Helisys products for seven years. In addtion they said that there is someone producing the machines under license in Japan (not Kira) so there seems a chance for a renaissance there.

It has seemed to me that there had been a large number of the machines on the used market but this of course could be becasue there are probably a relatively large percentage of Helysis machines in the total RP pool.

My question now is what has the cessation of Helisys operations done to the resale price of machines and more broadly to the list, why did they have to cease opperations. It has been clear that they have had declining sales for some time. Has their tradional market for patterns been coopted by better high speed CNC? Was part warpage really the issue that many said it was, and if so why did it not affect SLA when it came up in those processes. Are the new concept modelers just "cooler" and probably faster?

It does seem that a good analysis both from the business and technolgy sides is worth while particularly with several new companies still coming or trying to come on line in the new year. Certainly there is a huge element of luck and/or timing with a new product, but it seemed that Helysis was, for a new industry, one of the more stable of the pack.

Looking forward to more comment and so maybe a chance to the thread subject.

Best to all

Charles Overy

PS. Pleese exkuse any typos and speling mistakes. Like others, I will clame to be chalenged in speling and gramar, butt I hope I kan git my pointe akros. Also, due to skills reassements and a desire for corporate productivity gains, we had to move all young children to the HTML and web publishing departments. My editor/spell checker is reportedly now making $150K a year writing Cold Fusion code and saving up for a first car when he/she gets a dirvers license.

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Laser Graphic Manufacturing
Visualization Products for Architecture, Engineering, and Development. 800 448 8808

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