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Elastic Image Relocates Corporate
Office to Terre Haute
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| Junior Aaron Smith
mechanical engineering major digitizes grid points for Elastic Image's
newest client. |
Elastic Image, Inc., a leader in pre-decorated three-dimensional formed
products, today (November 19, 2004) announced that it has consolidated its
Indianapolis and Terre Haute offices. The company’s corporate office
joined its design studio already operating in Terre Haute.
“The
strategic move will enable us to be more efficient and maximize the
synergies and relationships we already have in place with Rose-Hulman
Institute of Technology and our local investors,” said Dan DeBard, Board
Chairman of Elastic Image.
Elastic Image’s technology makes it possible to accurately and
cost-effectively print on flat plastic and form the plastic into
three-dimensional shapes without visual distortion. Elastic Image, a
high-tech start-up company and graduate of the Rose-Hulman Ventures
incubator, has commercially proven this to be the process of the
future…today.
Elastic Image provides graphic images in such diverse markets as including
point-of-sale, in-store signage, vending, outdoor billboards, packaging,
automotive, appliances and toys. The success of Elastic Image Process has
been applied to promotional materials for Anheuser Bush, Cadbury
Schweppes Americas, Steak N Shake, Sam Adams and Toys-R-Us.
Elastic Image’s technical advantage is facilitated by intellectual
property as well as proprietary hardware and software created in
collaboration with Rose-Hulman Ventures. The technology allows efficient
and accurate measurement of the distortion that occurs in the process of
forming flat plastic sheets into complex 3D objects. With this distortion
defined, Elastic Image modifies graphic artwork so the plastic can be
pre-decorated or printed prior to forming. The end result is a
high-quality 3D product with perfectly registered and color controlled
images.
“This
process is a convergence of old-line manufacturing with new world-class
digitizing technology. Our approach is a science - a science that
eliminates risks, delivers on-time, on-budget and integrates with other
sophisticated technologies in the industry,” said John Davidson, founder
and Chief Technology Officer.
Prior
to this breakthrough technology, the process to attempt to produce an
undistorted final image has been purely trial and error and has produced
uncertain results. The tedious process and usually low quality of prior
methods made many who could benefit from the technology unwilling to
attempt 3D plastic projects.
“In
the past, we would have had to manually digitize hundreds of thousands of
grid points,” said J.P. Mellor, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
computer science professor and project manager. “With the functionality of
the imaging devices, there has been a phenomenal increase in
productivity,” he added.
Along
with Mellor, 27 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students contributed
to the technical development since 2001. An interdisciplinary team
consisting of computer scientists, computer engineers, electrical
engineers, mechanical engineers and undergraduate students resulted in
proprietary technology with three patents pending.
Another strategic advantage of Elastic Image is that its completed digital
files are delivered to the thermoformers via the Web making national and
global markets easily accessible from Elastic Image’s Terre Haute offices.
“With
the digital portability of our product and our exceptional
development team, we are well-positioned for success in the global
marketplace,” concluded DeBard.
Elastic Image
1011 North 3rd Street • Terre Haute, IN 47803 • (812)-238-1404
www.elastic-image.com
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