We've been seeing a lot of big-name companies focusing on expansion into North America, from the creation of Farsoon Americas to Renishaw's new North American headquarters near Chicago, and more. Specialty chemicals company Clariant, based in Switzerland, views North America as prime real estate for growth and investment. Clariant's main focus is catalysts, which are made from ceramics and metals, and can be made to resemble objects like honeycombs, gears, wheels, flora designs, pasta shapes, and even Tinker Toy blocks. Clariant uses 3D printing in both the testing and R&D areas, and plans to increase use of the technology in testing, with the goal being the eventual production of catalysts, in order to shorten the amount of time it takes to conventionally manufacture them through tableting, pelletizing, and extruding. Read more at 3DPrint.com: http://3dprint.com/169355/3d-printing-catalyst-rd/