IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 5, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Roland DG Corporation, a leading manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers and 3D devices worldwide, has announced that it will again participate as one of the key sponsors of FAB12, the 12th annual meeting of the global Fab Lab community, to be held August 8-14, 2016 in Shenzhen, China.
The Fab Lab Conference takes place each year in a different city around the world, where members of the global Fab Lab network and beyond gather for a multitude of events, including discussions on the future direction of Fab Labs, workshops aimed at resolving fabrication issues, and sharing information on efforts and success stories. Roland DG is sponsoring the event for the fourth time, as the company shares the same core concept of expanding the possibilities of digital fabrication in order to unleash the imagination and creativity of people everywhere.
To demonstrate the immense potential of desktop fabrication, Roland DG will showcase its 3D printer and UV-LED printers alongside its Fab Lab-recommended products, including the monoFab™ SRM-20, MODELA MDX-40A and MODELA PRO II MDX-540 3D milling machines, and the CAMM-1 GS-24 vinyl cutter, at a special booth designed as an ideal fab workspace.
Roland DG will also team up with Chinese Fab Labs to host workshops that demonstrate electronics manufacturing using the monoFab SRM-20 3D mill as well as the production of a one-of-a-kind earphone cable holder with the monoFab ARM-10 3D printer. The workshops will provide participants with insight into the many ways the company's advanced digital technologies can be used, including 3D milling, 3D printing, cutting, digital printing and impact printing. These sessions will also highlight other areas in which Fab Lab managers and those in the education and research fields can use Roland DG products to broaden the potential of desktop fabrication for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programs.
"Our company is playing a key role in the effort to increase interest in STEM education worldwide," said Brian Brooks, Group Product Manager, Specialty Systems at Roland DGA. "The devices we make are essential tools in the hands-on fabrication programs that are helping students tap into their creativity and enhance their logical thinking and problem-solving skills. By teaming up with Fab Labs and other STEM education partners to incorporate our products into school curriculums, we're doing our part to inspire a new generation of innovators and creators around the globe."
Brooks is also quick to point out the growing focus on STEM education, not only in the U.S., but also in countries like China. "STEM and the Fab Lab movement are growing all over the world," he noted. "In China, more and more schools at the junior high and high school level are creating interactive learning environments where students are coming up with imaginative concepts and turning those ideas into real output with cutting-edge Roland equipment. Our company is proud to provide the products that are making this kind of hands-on experience possible for young people on an international scale."
About Fab Lab
A Fab Lab (fabrication laboratory) is an open workshop offering digital fabrication as well as analog tools with the aim to make "almost anything." The concept was originally proposed by Professor Neil Gershenfeld, the Director of the Center for Bits and Atoms (CBA) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Currently, there are almost 1,000 Fab Labs in over 78 countries, which under the three concepts MAKE, LEARN, SHARE, support Personal Fabrication, giving people the unprecedented ability to design and then produce their own customized products. Each local Fab Lab is connected to a network of Fab Labs around the world in order to freely share information, brainstorm ideas, and collaborate on solving problems and accomplishing projects. For more information, visit: http://fab12.fabevent.org.
About Roland DG Corporation
Roland DG Corporation is a leading manufacturer of products designed to help professionals and hobbyists transform their imagination into reality, including SOLJET, TrueVIS, VersaCAMM, VersaUV and Texart series large-format inkjet devices, MDX milling and EGX engraving machines, CAMM-1 and STIKA vinyl cutters and MPX photo impact printers. In 2010, the company entered the healthcare market with Easy Shape DWX milling machines designed specifically for creating high-quality dental prosthetics. Roland DG also recently introduced the monoFab series of desktop 3D printers and milling machines for rapid prototyping and manufacturing. The company uses its proprietary cell production technology to manufacture products that are distributed worldwide. For more information, visit www.rolanddg.com.
About Roland DGA Corporation
Roland DGA Corporation serves North and South America as the marketing, sales and distribution arm for Roland DG Corporation. Founded in 1981 and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Roland DG of Hamamatsu, Japan is a worldwide leader in wide-format inkjet printers for the sign, apparel, textile, packaging and vehicle graphics markets; engravers for awards, personalization and ADA signage; photo impact printers for direct part marking; and 3D printers and CNC milling machines for rapid prototyping, part manufacturing and the medical and dental CAD/CAM industries. Roland DGA is ISO 9001:2008 certified, and Roland DG is ISO 9001:2008 and 14001:2004 certified. For more information, visit: www.rolanddga.com.