Hull wins in the Non-European countries category for his invention of the original 3D printing technology
3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced today that Chuck Hull is the recipient of the 2014 European Inventor Award in the non-European countries category in recognition of his invention of the original 3D printing technology, Stereolithography (SLA®). Presented annually by the European Patent Office (EPO), the award honors inventors who have made significant contributions to technological progress and the advancement of society.
Hull's pioneering work in additive manufacturing has led to the birth an entirely new industry. In addition to his invention of Stereolithography, Hull also co-created the gold standard in 3D printing connectivity with CAD formats, the STL file format. Beyond his 18 European patents for which he was recognized today, Hull holds 76 US patents and 14 Japanese patents. As the EPO suggests, 3D printing technology "could one day become one of the biggest advances in manufacturing since the industrial revolution."
Since his development of the SLA printing method, 3D printers have been embraced by a diverse range of industries from aerospace to automotive, healthcare and jewelry manufacturing. The ongoing success of this technology continues to impact everyone from students and teachers to makers and innovators in a revolutionary way.
"I was thinking about how this came to be and I'd really like to thank the hundreds and hundreds of scientists and engineers who have helped bring 3D printing to the world as we know it today," said Chuck Hull, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, 3DS. "When I started 30 years ago, I didn't envision the many ways 3D printing would change the way we design, create and make, and the impact it has on our lives."
In addition to accepting the European Inventor Award today, Hull's accolades include induction into the National Inventor's Hall of Fame on May 21, 2014 for his achievements in 3D printing and receiving The Economist's 2013 Innovation Award. Hull continues to lead the 3D printing revolution as 3DS' Chief Technology Officer, celebrating 30 years of continuous 3D printing innovation and presiding over seven different 3D print technologies, more than 100 materials and 1,700 patents.