More than 100 Xerox(s xrx) engineers and contractors will help 3D Systems increase its research and development spending by 75 to 100 percent over the next few years after the 27-year-old 3D printing company bought a portion of Xerox’s Wilsonville, Oregon-based group for $32.5 million. The two companies announcedtoday that the cash transaction will be complete by the end of the year.

The Wilsonville group is home to Xerox’s product design, engineering and chemistry teams. The employees acquired by 3D Systems will focus on product design and material science. They come packaged with their associated labs and select patents. Xerox also plans to continue its own research into 3D printing.

Xerox and 3D Systems have been partners for 15 years, during which they collaborated on products like 3D System’s line of ProJet professional 3D printers. Like 2D printers, 3D printers require “inks,” though they may come in liquid, powder or spooled…