PVA, Cohoes, New York, a dispensing, coating, and custom automation company, announced that it has acquired additive manufacturing company Create Orthotics & Prosthetics, Lake Placid, New York. Create O&P sells 3D printers that produce prostheses. Early adopters of the technology have been U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ hospitals. Create O&P was founded in 2012 by Jeff Erenstone, CPO.
Under the terms of the agreement, PVA now owns all Create O&P software and intellectual property. Create O&P employees have been absorbed into PVA’s operations.
The acquisition is the foundation of a new medical device division that PVA intends to expand as the company continues to diversify its product line beyond the traditional core electronics assembly market, according to the announcement. Additive manufacturing technology will become part of PVA’s core business. PVA President Tony Hynes said that company aims to make prosthetic devices faster, less expensively, and more comfortable for disabled veterans.
“Additive manufacturing is becoming a necessary function for rapid prototyping and tooling, and mitigates design risk for PVA’s core customers,” said Frank Hart, PVA Managing Director-Global Sales and Marketing. “We really see this as a multipurpose solution that strengthens Create O&P’s traditional medical market and brings PVA’s end-users a flexible, affordable solution to augment their manufacturing process. The technology PVA is acquiring is going to have a tremendous influence on how our customers can manufacture in the future.”
