3D printing service provider Shapeways has expanded its offering to customers, adding brand new Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing capabilities to its portfolio.
After going bankrupt last year, Shapeways was rescued by a consortium led by two of its original co-founders. Since then, the company has gone from strength to strength, relaunching its on-demand production services, and broadening its reach with the acquisition of Thangs.
According to Shapeways, its latest FDM expansion reflects its commitment to “serving the widest possible range of customers with affordable, flexible, high-quality and cost-effective solutions.” For the firm itself, the move is designed to “enhance its ability to meet diverse customer needs,” both in the field of rapid prototyping and end-part manufacturing.
Shapeways taps into FDM 3D printing
With FDM being the most popular form of 3D printing on the planet, Shapeways is wise to try and carve itself a slice of quite a lucrative market. The company’s foray into FDM will see it focus on five thermoplastics: ABS, ASA, polycarbonate (PC), PET, and PETG.
While ABS is known for its impact resistance, ASA features enhanced UV resistance for outdoor parts designed to withstand prolonged sunlight exposure. PC, on the other hand, boasts a high level of heat resistance, PET is food-safe (making it ideal for packaging applications), and PETG is chemically resistant – so it’s ideal for creating medical and food-safe parts.
Now that FDM is part of its portfolio, Shapeways anticipates being able to better meet customer needs in terms of cost-efficiency and lead times. Delivering parts faster and more economically is ultimately expected to make the firm’s offering more attractive to those 3D printing prototypes, custom tooling, educational models, end-use parts, and more.
Recovering from a mismanaged merger
By 2021, Shapeways had established itself as a hugely popular 3D printing marketplace, making over 20 million parts for customers around the world. Just three years later, the company was forced to file for bankruptcy, leaving many asking ‘what went so wrong?’
Largely, the company’s downfall can be attributed to its decision to go public via a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) merger. Although the deal attracted $275 million in funding for Shapways, this was based on extremely shaky numbers. In 2019, it was making $33.5 million in revenue per year, by 2024 it was projecting revenue of $250 million.
While Shapeways attempted to expand in the service bureau market, it failed to attract enough business to get anywhere near its revenue goals. Instead, the firm ended up with some very unhappy investors, and it was continually threatened with delisting from the NASDAQ.
When the company filed for bankruptcy in July 2024, it seemed that one of the industry’s longest serving service providers was meeting its demise. But Manuevo BV stepped in to acquire its assets a month later and it has been on the rebound ever since. With Shapeways having initially sold many of its technologies, Manuevo has been slowly rebuilding its capabilities.
First there was the acquisition of popular 3D filesharing site Thangs, now an expansion into FDM. In a 3D industry that has been rocked by financial setbacks, Shapways’ comeback story is a very welcome one for makers and manufacturers everywhere.
