CPM Fastools created its new process in response to changes in the tool making and molding industries. According to Mark McGrath and Steven Moore, co-owners of the company, "We were seeking an innovative approach to make our company more competitive. What we found is that the consolidation of domestic toolmakers, due to overseas competition, has lead to leadtimes of eight to twelve weeks or longer. With the EOS DMLS technology and cryogenic processing, CPM Fastools is filling the need for fast-turn, low-cost production molds." Since implementing the rapid tooling process, the corporation has doubled revenues. "This tooling process has increased both our mold making and molding business. We are now looking for a new location that will let us double the size of the business," stated McGrath.

"Manufacturing in the U.S. is not dead. We just need more innovative ways to be competitive," said Moore. It is this vision and the ability to see a real need and fill it that has earned the company four awards. In April 2006, McGrath and Moore received the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Small Business Persons of the Year honor. Two Maryland Governor's Citations, and the Maryland Daily Record's Innovator of the Year Award, followed.

CPM Fastools' process uses EOS DMLS technology to produce fully dense, metal core and cavity inserts. The inserts, and all mold components, are cryogenically processed to relieve residual stress and increase wear resistance. The company reports that these production molds are ideal for resins that are difficult to injection mold and cause rapid tooling wear. "We have made production tools for molding tough resins like polyphenolsulfone and glass-filled engineering plastics," said Moore.

In one project, CPM Fastools reports that it delivered production tooling in just 28 days at a cost of $15,000. Compared to conventional tooling, this is a 70 percent reduction in time and cost. In another instance, a global manufacturer could not find a source that could deliver an injection mold in 30 days. While skeptical that CPM Fastools could do what no other operation could, the company funded the project. When CPM Fastools delivered the tooling in 28 days, the company was convinced that it had found a powerful process and a new supplier.

While the company plans to double its size and capacity, it will be adding very few employees. McGrath commented, "The good thing about the EOS system is that it is not labor intensive. Unlike conventional tool shop operations, you just push a button and walk away."

About CPM Fastools (www.cpmFastools.com)
CPM Fastools, a subsidiary of Chesapeake Plastics Manufacturing, Inc., was founded in October 2005. Located in Lusby, Md., the company produces production molds using both conventional and rapid tooling processes. The company also offers rapid prototyping and reverse engineering to support its customers' product development efforts.

About EOS (www.eos.info)
EOS was founded in 1989 and is today the world leading manufacturer of laser-sintering systems. Laser-sintering is the key technology for e-Manufacturing, the fast, flexible and cost-effective production of products, patterns or tools. The technology manufactures parts for every phase of the product life cycle, directly from electronic data. Laser-sintering accelerates product development and optimizes production processes. EOS completed its last business year on September 30th, 2006 with estimated revenues of 51 million Euro and thus continues its ongoing growth.