[3D Printing] Ultimaker and MakerBot Resolve Differences and Open a New Chapter? Stratasys Invests More!
Starting May 12, 2022, MakerBot and Ultimaker, two leaders in the desktop 3D printing field, announced today that the two companies have reached a business merger agreement. They will accelerate the expansion of the additive manufacturing market by providing comprehensive desktop 3D printing hardware, software, and materials.
(The MakerBot Method X is compact, has a large capacity, and is compatible with a variety of 3D printing filaments, making it suitable for aerospace, automotive, and educational fields.)
With a planned investment of approximately NT$1.8 billion from existing investors NPM Capital and Stratasys, the new company will be co-led by Nadav Goshen, the current CEO of MakerBot, and Jürgen von Hollen, the current CEO of Ultimaker, with the latter serving as co-CEO. Nadav will manage operations and R&D, while Jürgen will manage commercial responsibilities.
(The Ultimaker S5, an industrial-grade 3D printer, with an enclosed filter cover. It offers stable dual-nozzle printing, has won numerous international awards, features automatic calibration and filament detection, and streamlines internal manufacturing processes.)
Jürgen von Hollen, the current CEO of Ultimaker, said: "As we enter the light industrial sector, we find that this market is not yet saturated and has great potential for development. Once the companies merge, we will have sufficient capability to secure a foothold." Nadav Goshen, the current CEO of MakerBot, agreed and added: "Future product prices might range from NT$440,000 to NT$590,000. We will develop powerful, robust, and reusable 3D printers, whose performance will far exceed current products. How to position the products well will be the next mission."
(CALLUM, a supercar design company, uses the MakerBot METHOD X 3D printer to manufacture parts for the limited edition of 25 Aston Martin supercars worldwide. Design Director Ian Callum believes 3D printing is pushing the boundaries of automotive design.)
"This merger marks a significant milestone for Ultimaker and MakerBot. Innovation and growth will be crucial for desktop 3D printing to transition from a specialized technology to mainstream business applications. The new company will leverage its combined global footprint to expand sales and operations across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific," said Jürgen, current CEO of Ultimaker.
"Technological innovation is critical for improving accessible, professional 3D printing solutions. By merging our teams, we can utilize additional funding to accelerate the development of more advanced solutions, offering customers a wide range of hardware and software solutions, and providing services for a broad customer base and applications," said Nadav, current CEO. The headquarters will be located in both the Netherlands and New York. The merger is still undergoing review and is currently expected to be completed in the second or third quarter of 2022. Let's look forward to new developments in 3D printing hardware and software.
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