LeTourneau Sets Guinness Record for Simultaneous Printer Operation

LONGVIEW – LeTourneau University in Longview has set a Guinness World Record for having the most 3D printers in operation simultaneously, totaling 102. According to an LETU news release, the world record attempt was made on April 4, when LETU’s freshmen engineering students gathered in the university’s Solheim Arena with laptops and the 3D printers they built last fall in their freshmen engineering classes. “We are the only engineering program in the country that I know of that requires all of our freshmen engineering students to build their own 3D printers,” said LETU Dean of Engineering Dr. Ron DeLap. “This achievement is a result of their great work.”

The event was the brainchild of LETU engineering professor Dr. Jesse French who, along with former shuttle astronaut Dr. Byron Lichtenberg, taught the freshmen engineering students in their introduction to engineering classes. The LETU students used their own 3D printers to make a gear-shaped coin to commemorate the world record attempt. Only seven of the 109 3D printers that competed in the event did not work, resulting in the world record number of 102, as confirmed by a panel of independent witnesses. The evidence required by Guinness World Records, including witness statements, video proof, photographs and media reports, was compiled and sent to London before the school was notified of its win.

The Records Management Team at Guinness World Records notified LeTourneau University on April 17 in an email that read: “We are delighted to confirm that you have successfully achieved a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for ‘Most 3D printers operating simultaneously.’ We would like to congratulate you on your record-breaking achievement. You are OFFICIALLY AMAZING. Your official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS certificate confirming your world record is being created and will be sent to you shortly. So expect to receive it within 2 to 3 weeks.”