Latest news with #DallasMartin
Business Wire
07-08-2025
- Automotive
- Business Wire
Toyota Accelerates Production Innovation with Stratasys; Drives Efficiency, and Improves Lead Times with Additive Manufacturing
MINNETONKA, Minn. & REHOVOT, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS), announced today that Toyota's production engineering group is accelerating innovation on the factory floor through its strategic collaboration with Stratasys. The automaker is empowering automotive workers to seamlessly integrate advanced 3D printing technology in their manufacturing process, taking tools, fixtures and jigs from initial concept to working prototype in just one day. Through the more than 10-year partnership with Stratasys, Toyota engineers have access to industrial-grade 3D printers and advanced materials designed to withstand tough factory conditions. These Stratasys high-performance polymers reduce reliance on external suppliers and long lead times, giving frontline engineering teams the ability to iterate rapidly and adapt to shifting production needs in real time. Toyota is currently using the Stratasys F3300, F900, Origin One, F770, Neo800, H350, F370, J850, and Fortus 450mc printers to produce robust factory tooling, end-use parts, and functional prototypes throughout its North American facilities. See how Toyota is using additive manufacturing in this video. By integrating Stratasys industrial 3D printing solutions across its North American operations, Toyota can transform ideas into durable, customized tools that support workflows, enhance worker safety, and withstand wear and tear. Much of this work is powered by the Toyota Add Lab, the company's in-house additive manufacturing center that was opened in January 2023 and dedicated to accelerating R&D and factory innovation. 'Sometimes we start with nothing more than a sketch on paper or an idea in our heads,' said Dallas Martin, Additive Manufacturing Engineer at Toyota North America. 'We can model it digitally and hold a working part in our hands the very next day. That speed lets us move quickly, implement safer solutions, and continuously iterate to improve our processes.' The collaboration reflects Stratasys' broader commitment to helping automotive leaders transform their manufacturing workflows with scalable, cost-effective additive solutions that drive innovation. From jigs and fixtures to ergonomic aids and complex assembly tools, additive manufacturing is helping Toyota team members solve production challenges with unprecedented speed and flexibility. 'Additive manufacturing has transformed how our teams collaborate and innovate,' said Lisa Bednar, Group Manager, Production Engineering at Toyota North America. 'Instead of sending an idea out and waiting weeks for a part, we're building it ourselves, refining it the same day, and getting it into production faster. It's not just about speed — it's about giving our people the tools to think differently and act immediately.' Thanks in part to the Add Lab's innovations, Toyota engineers have used 3D printing to redesign a door assembly fixture, creating a lighter, more ergonomic tool on-site in just a few days. In another case, they developed a custom window alignment jig that turned a multi-person job into a one-person task, boosting both safety and efficiency. 'Toyota is a standout example of how leading manufacturers are leveraging additive manufacturing to deliver meaningful operational impact,' said Rich Garrity, Chief Industrial Business Officer at Stratasys. 'Their teams are using our technology to move faster, adapt on the fly, and build safer, more efficient production environments. We're proud to support a partner that's turning bold ideas into real-world, measurable improvements on the factory floor.' About Stratasys Stratasys is leading the global shift to additive manufacturing with innovative 3D printing solutions for industries such as aerospace, automotive, consumer products, and healthcare. Through smart and connected 3D printers, polymer materials, a software ecosystem, and parts on demand, Stratasys solutions deliver competitive advantages at every stage in the product value chain. The world's leading organizations turn to Stratasys to transform product design, bring agility to manufacturing and supply chains, and improve patient care. To learn more about Stratasys, visit the Stratasys blog, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook. Stratasys reserves the right to utilize any of the foregoing social media platforms, including Stratasys' websites, to share material, non-public information pursuant to the SEC's Regulation FD. To the extent necessary and mandated by applicable law, Stratasys will also include such information in its public disclosure filings.
CBC
20-06-2025
- Climate
- CBC
North Edmonton residents displaced after lightning ignites house, apartment complex
Some residents in Edmonton's north side are displaced after lightning struck a house and an apartment complex Wednesday afternoon. Around 1 p.m. MT, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services responded to a house fire near 135th Avenue and 113A Street, in the Kensington area. Minutes later, emergency crews also arrived at an apartment building on fire near 82nd Street and 144th Avenue, near the Dickinsfield neighbourhood. Fire investigators determined that lightning caused both fires, which were located just four kilometres away from each other. "This is a bit of an unusual circumstance in that it caused a house fire, but it does show the dangers that can be posed by lightning in general," said Todd Bate, a meteorologist for Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). A thunderstorm had blown in earlier Wednesday, with the national weather agency projecting that it could become severe. Alyssa Ironchild and Dallas Martin, who lived together on the third floor of the apartment building, had concerns about how intense the thunderstorm was getting. Ironchild had taken out her phone to record the storm, capturing what appeared to be lightning striking the roof of her apartment. "As soon as the lightning hit the building, the smoke and everything just immediately filled up all the hallways," she said. "Trying to get out … it was so terrifying. You could not see anything in the building hallways at all, it was just so scary and it was really hard to breathe." Ironchild is thankful for a passerby who, after witnessing the lightning strike, pulled over and helped evacuate some of the residents. "I was trying to go to get my cat and I was just crying. I couldn't find her," she said. "He told me to go out and that he would get her for me, and he did." Bate, of ECCC, said the agency does not currently keep records of house fires started by lightning. But according to its most recent statistics from 2019, on average, lightning kills two to three people per year, and 180 lightning-related injuries are reported annually. Wednesday's thunderstorm didn't meet the criteria to be classified as severe, Bate said, noting that there was no heavy rain, hail, or strong winds. But he added that storms in general can be dangerous, even if they aren't deemed severe. "We'd still say that, when there is a thunderstorm, the best thing to do is to head inside," he said. Bate noted that Alberta could see more severe weather events in the next few years, based on patterns the weather agency is seeing around the globe. Displaced resident still in shock Damages from the apartment fire are estimated to reach up to $500,000, according to the Edmonton Fire Rescue Services. As for the house, damages totalled around $30,000 and a dog living there, which did escape the flames, is missing. In a statement to CBC News, a spokesperson for Mainstreet Equity Corp., the company that operates the apartment, said that all the complex's residents are in a hotel. They did not specify how many people were displaced. Ironchild and Martin, whose apartment suffered fire and water damage, are now shifting their focus to finding a longer-term accommodation. "There's no time frame really on how long this is all going to take," Martin said. "But we did call Mainstreet and they're looking into it, and they're going to try to help us as best as they can." Ironchild said she's still in shock. "I couldn't believe what happened [Wednesday] because you never think that something like that could happen to you," she said. "You see it in movies, right? And then when it happens to you, it's just unreal." Ultimately, though, Ironchild said she's just thankful that everyone made it out alive.
