Does this mean that ARRK has the controlling interest in Bits2parts.com?
B. J. Arnold-Feret
ppsltd@airmail.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Rachael Dalton-Taggart <rachael.taggart@spatial.com>
To: rp-ml@bart.lpt.fi <rp-ml@bart.lpt.fi>
Date: Friday, June 02, 2000 12:28 AM
Subject: Announcing closed beta of Bits2Parts.com
All-
this press release about Bits2parts.com, the new web site for streamline the RFQ and bid process for the RP industry, went out yesterday.
Regards
Rachael Dalton-Taggart
PLANETCAD ENTERS CLOSED BETA TESTING WITH ITS BITS2PARTS.COM RFQ SERVICE
David Tait Appointed General Manager of Custom Manufacturing for PlanetCAD
BOULDER, Colo., May 31, 2000 - Spatial Inc. (AMEX-STY), the world's leading developer of Web-hosted engineering application services, e-frastructure, interoperability solutions and open, component 3D modeling technology, today announced that its PlanetCAD.com Internet division has commenced closed beta testing of its Bits2Parts.com(tm) online request for quote (RFQ) service for the rapid prototyping (RP) industry.
Bits2Parts.com (www.bits2parts.com) is a Web-based service focused on streamlining the quotation, communication and data flow between manufacturers and RP service providers. This latest service will join existing Web-based application services from Spatial's PlanetCAD division, including the highly successful 3Dshare.com(tm) and the recently launched 3Dpublish.com(tm). Bits2Parts.com has already gathered the support of major industry players as Anchor Members (early adopters), including Caterpillar Inc., Cummins Engine Co., General Pattern, Express Pattern, Eagle Design & Technology Inc., ARRK Product Development Group, Prototech Engineering, Soligen, Materialise and Accelerated Technologies Inc.
During closed beta testing, Spatial will solicit feedback about the service from a limited number of initial customers, including the Anchor Members. Parties interested in joining the closed beta test should contact Spatial at contact@bits2parts.com. Spatial will invite additional companies to join the beta test based on relevant experience, capability and system availability. Spatial expects to begin an open beta testing period of Bits2Parts.com early in the third quarter 2000.
Spatial also announced that it has appointed David Tait as general manager of custom manufacturing of its PlanetCAD division. Tait significantly enhances the Spatial management team with more than 20 years of manufacturing experience, including 12 years innovating and supplying prototyping services for the digital manufacturing supply industry. A leader in the rapid prototyping (RP) industry, Tait introduced the RP process of stereolithography to General Motors and implemented various RP systems at the company in 1988. He will oversee Bits2Parts.com.
"David Tait brings the deep industry experience needed for the complex Web-based custom manufacturing brokerage services that we are developing," said Isaac Kato, vice president and general manager of Spatial's PlanetCAD Division. "David brings an unparalleled comprehension of custom manufacturing processes and an unsurpassed industry Rolodex. His industry experience, knowledge and contacts, combined with our developers' expertise in designing and developing infrastructure systems, are already resulting in a set of services for custom manufacturers. These services yield tremendous efficiency and remove significant pain from their daily RFQ and bid-generation activity."
Bob Truxell, chairman of Rich Coast Inc. and a former corporate officer at General Motors Corp. and General Dynamics said, "David Tait's profound experience and reputation in the automotive product design and prototype industry make him an ideal candidate to be leading an innovation such as Bits2Parts.com. I have worked alongside him for eight years and hold a deep respect and regard for his abilities."
"I've known and worked closely with Dave for more than a decade," said Terry Wohlers, president of Wohlers Associates Inc. "Dave developed an enormous level of respect among his friends, colleagues, employees and clients. As a founder of the Rapid Prototyping Association of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and frequent speaker at major industry events, Dave has helped give shape to the RP industry as we know it today. It is the integrity of people like Dave that give this industry credibility and importance."
Tait's career spans more than 20 years in large manufacturing organizations. He was a manager at
General Motors Advanced Vehicle Engineering Division, cofounder and president of LaserForm Inc., co-founder and executive vice president of P2 Holdings Corp., and a regional manager for ARRK Product Development. Tait is an active figure in national organizations and is an advisory board member in the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME). He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Central Michigan University.
About Spatial Inc.
Spatial is the world's leading provider of Web-based services, e-frastructure and advanced engineering technology solutions to streamline the digital manufacturing supply chain and set global standards for product engineers, designers, software developers and manufacturing professionals. Spatial is headquartered in Boulder, Colo., and has offices in California, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit Spatial's Web site at http://www.spatial.com or call (303) 544-2900.
About PlanetCAD.com
Spatial's PlanetCAD division develops and delivers Web-hosted application services, e-commerce sites and portals that are the premier online destinations for manufacturing and design engineers needing to streamline the digital manufacturing supply chain. PlanetCAD's application services include: 3Dshare.com (http://www.3dshare.com), the successor to 3Dmodelserver.com, which provides online translation and repair of 3D CAD models to streamline the flow of engineering data between organizations regardless of the installed CAD systems; 3Dpublish.com, (http://www.3dpublish.com) an application service for the online, automated capture of high resolution 2D graphics from 3D CAD models; and Bits2Parts.com, (http://www.bits2parts.com) an e-commerce service that streamlines the communication and data transmission process between manufacturers and rapid prototyping service bureaus across the Web.
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Statements made in this news release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement, and any projections related to 3Dshare.com and PlanetCAD.com may be significantly different than those predicted by the Company. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by any forward-looking information. A description of risks and uncertainties attendant to Spatial Technology Inc. and its industry, and other factors which could affect the Company's financial results, are included in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to the Company's annual report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1999.
Spatial Technology Inc., 3Dshare.com, 3Dpublish.com, Bits2Parts.com, ACIS 3D Toolkit, SAT and PlanetCAD are trademarks. ACIS and IntraVISION are registered trademarks of Spatial Technology Inc. All other products are trademarks of their respective owners.
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