MakerBot Sold To Stratasys
The 3D printing industry turned downright frothy Wednesday as Stratasys agreed to acquire the startup MakerBot for about $403 million. Founded in 1989, Stratasys is a 3D printing veteran used to selling large machines to industrial customers. Based in Brooklyn, MakerBot has operated on the opposite end of the spectrum, making $2,000 or so machines that can sit on a designer or consumer’s desk and print three-dimensional objects out of plastic using techniques not all that dissimilar from traditional inkjet printers.
The 3D printing industry has been consolidating as interest in the technology heats up. Stratasys acquired Objet, one of its main rivals, last year, while 3D Systems bought its rival Z Corp. The purchase of MakerBot could be seen as a lost opportunity for Hewlett-Packard, which many people in the 3D printing business have expected to enter the market, given its printing chops.
MakerBot will continue to operate independently. The company has been something of a grassroots player, getting its start on the back of open-source hardware designs and software. The company’s CEO and co-founder, Bre Pettis, has also served as the charismatic voice, more or less, of the 3D printing movement.
Comments (0)
This post does not have any comments. Be the first to leave a comment below.
Featured Product
Knight Optical - Unlocking Precision for the Robotics and Automation Revolution
In the era of Industry 4.0, automation and machine learning drive the future. Knight Optical stands at the forefront, collaborating globally to supply precision optical components that power the robotics and automation sector. From UAVs, drones, and robotics to machine vision, LiDAR-driven car sensors, and renewable energy, our optics empower innovation. Optical components play an important role within the industry, including: Optical windows and domes safeguard systems in unmanned vehicles while preserving the field of view for cameras. Infrared lenses with aspheric surfaces elevate thermal imaging. Optical filters excel in machine vision, with colour glass, interference, and dichroic filters in our stock. Knight Optical provides stock components and custom solutions made to your exact specs. With every component undergoing rigorous metrology and QA checks before shipment, you are sure to experience true precision, innovation, and assurance.
