Diversified Plastics Inc. (DPI) was the recipient of the Minnesota Technology Association’s award for advanced manufacturing at the 23^rd annual Tekne Awards. The program highlights and recognizes innovative technology developed by Minnesota companies that impacts the community and the world.

“The Tekne Awards honor the innovators and tech leaders powering Minnesota’s growing science and technology economy,” said Jeff Tollefson, President and CEO of the Minnesota Technology Association. “Those who viewed this year’s virtual awards ceremony were inspired by the technological breakthroughs being developed in Minnesota and [are] proud of the important role our state plays in global technology innovation.”

The advanced manufacturing category celebrates innovation and pioneering efforts in the use of technology to more efficiently design and produce new products or improve processes for manufacturing products. Advanced manufacturing includes production activities that depend on information, automation, computation, software, sensing, and networking.

DPI’s award application highlighted the Acceleration Station, an additive manufacturing service that accelerates a product's path to market. Although there are many facets to a winning go-to-market strategy, design changes, prototyping, and building molds can delay a product launch, explained Minneapolis-based DPI. The Acceleration Station uses the Carbon Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) additive manufacturing process that can make production and prototype parts in days — not weeks — without tooling.

DPI explains that the Carbon DLS additive manufacturing process is up to 100 times faster than traditional additive methods and is a transformational technology for product design and production. It allows manufacturers and engineers to explore what has been impossible to produce through conventional manufacturing methods, including articulating structures, part consolidation, variable wall thicknesses, sharp corners, surface textures, and more.

“We’re thrilled to receive this award because it recognizes the outstanding efforts of our employees in providing our customers with the support and tools they need to be more successful,” said Kevin Hogan, CEO of DPI. “The Acceleration Station engineering and production team works closely with customers to save time and money by optimizing parts for digital manufacturing.”

Diversified Plastics is an employee-owned custom plastic-injection molding company and digital manufacturer of precision, close-tolerance parts and components for medical device, filtration, aerospace and other markets. In addition to its Minneapolis headquarters, DPI purchased Pacific Plastics Injection Molding in Vista, CA, to expand the company’s operations and capabilities.