Tag Archives: M&A

3D Systems CEO: 3D Printing Will Be As Big As the iPad

iPad Crowd

The Cube is coming and it’s going to help 3D printing be as big as the iPad.

That’s the message 3D Systems CEO Abe Reichental wants you to understand. The Cube is 3D Systems’ new printer targeted at the mass consumer. It simplifies the process of getting from design to print via embedded Wi-Fi and cloud printing. The Cube will retail for  $1,299 which undercuts the current consumer standard MakerBot Replicator by $500.

3D Systems Cube 3D Printer

There is no doubt that Mr. Reichental has conviction about his belief in the growth of the 3D printing industry. 3D Systems transfered from NASDAQ to NYSE just one year ago and has grown its market cap by 40%. It has since been on an acquisition tear, picking up My Robot Nation, FreshFiber and several other companies. The 3D printer company recently reported record revenue for Q1 and is now placing bets on its Cube consumer printer and Cubify design portal.

In an interview with VentureBeat, Mr. Reichental commented on why 3D printing will become as big as the iPad:

There are very few artists around the world that can start painting on a blank canvas, but there are millions of people who can use a coloring book.

And further on his expectations for printer prices over time:

The prices will come down. It’s inevitable that in the next year or year-and-a-half prices will be half of what they are today, and then come down again.

We are excited to see the launch of the Cube printer!

 

Via VentureBeat.

iPad Crowd photo from niallkennedy used under Creative Commons license.

3D Systems Acquires FreshFiber for 3D Printed Electronics Accessories

FreshFiber Personalized 3D Printed iPhone Cases

3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) has announced the acquisition of Amsterdam-based FreshFiber BV, a leading 3D printing consumer goods brand. The photo above showcases several custom iPhone case designs sold by FreshFiber, each depicting the landmarks of a different major city and manufactured using 3D printing.

From their press release:

3D Systems plans to integrate FreshFiber into its growing consumer business and leverage the FreshFiber brand and leadership position to expand its reach into individualized and personalized electronics accessories.

“This is an exciting development that will allow us to bring an expanded range of accessories and services to our customers,” said Christian Dijkhof of FreshFiber.

FreshFiber is the leading 3D printed consumer electronics accessories brand sold on-line and in retail stores today.  Over the past two years, FreshFiber grew its product offering and presence globally through high-end retail stores like Apple, FNAC and Gravis.

“FreshFiber delivers extraordinary personalization and style through a wide range of co-creation APPS and choices that empower consumers to customize their accessories, including its flagship iPhone® cases,” said Cathy Lewis, Vice President Global Marketing for 3D Systems. “We plan to enhance FreshFiber’s portfolio through our technology and manufacturing infrastructure as well as our growing Cubify.com platform.”

This acquisition comes just weeks after the acquisitions of My Robot Nation and Paramount Industries, and Q1 results with record revenue.

Why Google Sold SketchUp and What It Means for 3D Printing

Google Sketchup at Maker Faire

Google acquired upstart SketchUp in 2006, made the product free, and drove tens of millions of users. Now Google is selling the SketchUp product and staff to Trimble, a company best known for GPS technology.

On the SketchUp blog, John Bacus, Product Manager, SketchUp wrote:

In its time at Google, SketchUp has become one of the most popular 3D modeling tools in the world. With over 30 million SketchUp activations in just the last year, we’re awfully proud of our accomplishments. But there’s still so much we want to do, and we think we’ve found a way forward that will benefit everyone—our product, our team and especially our millions of users.

That’s why I’m sharing today that the SketchUp team and technology will be leaving Google to join Trimble. We’ll be better able to focus on our core communities: modelers who have been with us from the beginning, as well as future SketchUppers who have yet to discover our products.

Why Did Google Sell SketchUp?

The simple answer is focus. As founder and new CEO Larry Page wrote in his 2012 update to investors, ”Since becoming CEO again, I’ve pushed hard to increase our velocity, improve our execution, and focus on the big bets that will make a difference in the world.”

SketchUp apparently is not included in Google’s big bets.

Good Move by Trimble

Google made the investment to turn SketchUp into a popular software platform. Trimble can capitalize on that brand. Trimble announced in a press release that SketchUp would “enhance its office-to-field platform”.

Trimble will also continue to partner with Google on running and the SketchUp 3D warehouse, an online repository where users find and collaborate on 3D models. And Trimble will keep offering a free version of SketchUp.

“SketchUp and the corresponding 3D Warehouse provide an important element of our long term strategy by enhancing the integration of our field presence with the wider enterprise,” said Bryn Fosburgh, Trimble vice president.

Did Google Make a Mistake?

Google’s move is surprising to those who believe 3D printing is at an inflection point and will be a disruptive force on our global supply chain by empowering a new generation of product creators.

We reviewed Autodesk 123D, Sketchup and Tinkercad and later featured Anarkik3D, a crowdfunding hopeful. Although SketchUp was not necessarily the best design software for 3D printing, it was one of the most popular free 3D design software packages on the planet and inspired many people to get into design. Google has now lost that audience.

We have previously suggested that giants like Amazon would get into the 3D printing field. It would surprise us if Google stayed out of the industry altogether.

Perhaps SketchUp was too technical of a product for the mainstream. Should we prepare for a new 3D modeling software from Google? A web-based 123D of their own? Or perhaps a different play.

Impact on 3D Printing?

Not much today, as summarized by Fabbaloo:

Is this a big change for 3D print operators? We think not so much, because SketchUp just isn’t the best tool for modeling solid objects. It doesn’t even output the STL format used by all 3D printers unless you install a special plug in.

But the long term impact depends on whether Google re-enters the 3D printing field with a new product.

 

Photo by Scott Beale / Laughing Squid, used under Creative Commons license.

Top 3D Printing Headlines from Last Week: Crowdfunding, Fashion, 123D, $500 Printer

Seed of Yggdrasil - 3D Printed

A roundup of the top news On 3D Printing brought you from April 23 to April 29.

Monday, April 23

Tuesday, April 24

Wednesday, April 25

Thursday, April 26

Friday, April 27

3D Systems Q1 Results: Record Revenue and Printer Units, M&A Activity [Earnings]

3D Systems

“We are pleased to report another quarter of record revenue and printer units,” said Abe Reichental, 3D Systems’ President and Chief Executive Officer. “Record print materials revenue and continued margin expansion drove our consolidated gross profit margin upward validating the earnings power of our business model.”

3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) is a leading provider of 3D content-to-print solutions including 3D printers, print materials and on-demand custom parts services for professionals and consumers alike.

Revenue increased 63% to $77.9 million over the first quarter of 2011. Printer units grew 153% for the quarter compared to 2011. Gross profit grew 67% for the first quarter on higher revenue and gross profit margin expanded 143 basis points over the 2011 period to 50%.

The company generated $15.8 million of cash from operations in the first quarter 2012, after incurring a $13.1 million increase in its operating expenses from expected acquisition and higher sales and marketing costs. The increase also included $2.1 million of higher R&D expenditures in support of its Cubify.com consumer initiative and expanded R&D programs in support of the businesses it acquired during the first quarter of 2012, including My Robot Nation.

My Robot Nation Acquired by 3D Systems

The company ended the first quarter of 2012 with $60.0 million of available cash, including $15.8 million of cash from operations.

The company affirmed its annual guidance for the full year 2012 and expects its revenue to be in the range of $330 million to $360 million and its non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share to be in the range of $1.00 to $1.25.

To experience 3D Systems’ entire range of 3D content-to-print products and services please visit www.printin3D.com , www.production3dprinters.com , www.zcorp.com , www.toptobottomdental.com , www.3Dproparts.com , www.quickparts.com , www.paramountind.com , www.zcorp.com , www.alibre.com , www.bitsfrombytes.com , www.cubify.com , www.myrobotnation.com , www.The3dStudio.com , www.freedomofcreation.com , www.sycode.com , www.botmill.com , blog.3dsystems.com, or via email at moreinfo@3Dsystems.com.

Via MarketWatch.