Stratasys (NASDAQ: SSYS) – a global leader in applied additive technology solutions – today announced the company is officially kicking off its 2018 Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge with a “call-for-entries.” Entering its 14th year, the contest is widely recognized as the premier event to highlight excellence in 3D printed design from student innovators.

Leveraging the power of 3D printing, students around the world now have the opportunity to redesign an existing product, create a new product that improves how tasks are accomplished, or design an original work of art or architecture. This year’s contest if fully supported by the GrabCAD community – the world’s largest online collaborative environment supporting designers, engineers and manufacturers.

“Since its inception, the Stratasys Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge has awarded more than $150,000 in scholarships to some of the world’s top student innovators. We’re proud to continue this tradition, offering new entrants the opportunity to learn, innovate, and grow leveraging 3D printing technology,” said Gina Scala, Director of Marketing, Global Education, Stratasys. “We greatly look forward to seeing what this year’s group of entries can design and innovate.”

As part of entry criteria, all designs should prove mechanically sound, realistic, and achievable. Submissions are analyzed and judged based on:

Sound mechanical design
Compelling written description
Design creativity
Product usefulness
Aesthetics (art, jewelry and architecture category)

Both individuals and design teams are asked to create entries leveraging 3D CAD software, submitting files in .STL format through the GrabCAD Platform – along with a written description highlighting the design’s value and benefits. Deadline to submit across the following categories is NO LATER than February 26, 2018:

–Engineering: Secondary Education (middle/high school)
–Engineering: Post-Secondary (university, college, or post-secondary)
–Art, Jewelry, or Architecture (any grade level)

First-place winners of this year’s contest will receive $2,500 (US Dollars) scholarships. Instructors of first-place students will also benefit from a demo Stratasys 3D printer in their classroom for a limited time. Second-place winners will receive $1,000 (US Dollars) scholarships. The top 10 entries in each category earn a Stratasys apparel item (value up to $50 US Dollars), and a 3D printed model of their design. All teams and individuals additionally receive official Stratasys, GrabCAD, and Extreme Redesign Tech Tattoo stickers.

For the third year running, the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers (NCATC) is also bestowing a $1,000 scholarship to an entry in the post-secondary engineering category who is also from a NCATC member school. NCATC is a network of higher education resources promoting use of technology applications to enhance economic and workforce development programs and services.

For more information and contest rules – or to become part of this year’s exciting event – visit the Extreme Redesign Page on the Stratasys Website. Get in on all the action by following the Extreme Redesign Printing Challenge on Facebook – and include #ExtremeRedesign into all posts. Visit the GrabCAD Community to enter the Challenge.

The call for entries closes on February 26, 2018. Please submit your designs today!

Stratasys Ltd.
www.stratasys.com