June 27, 2013

Israeli-American Stratasys, the leader in 3D printing and additive manufacturing, has announced a merge with MakerBot, the leader in desktop 3D printing. The combination of these two industry leaders is expected to drive faster adoption of 3D printing for multiple applications and industries.

MakerBot will operate as a separate subsidiary of Stratasys, maintaining its own identity, products and go-to-market strategy. The merger enhances Stratasys’s leadership position in the rapidly growing 3D printer market, by enabling Stratasys to offer affordable desktop 3D printers.

“MakerBot is an innovation company. We innovate so others can innovate, and we believe 3D printing is fueling the Next Industrial Revolution,” MakerBot announced on its blog. “We have been a pioneer in desktop 3D printing – which provides affordable 3D printing access to individuals, from engineers, architects, designers, entrepreneurs and educators, in addition to hobbyists and makers.”

“MakerBot’s 3D printers are rapidly being adopted by CAD-trained designers and engineers,” said David Reis, Stratsys CEO. “Bre Pettis [CEO of MakerBot] and his team at MakerBot have built the strongest brand in the desktop 3D printer category by delivering an exceptional user experience. MakerBot has impressive products, and we believe that the company’s strategy of making 3D printing accessible and affordable will continue to drive adoption.”

Stratasys has dual headquarters in Minneapolis and Rehovot. US-based Stratasys and Israel-based Objet – both leading manufacturers in the 3D printing field – merged in 2012.

Desktop 3D printer usage among design and engineering professionals is growing rapidly. Stratasys and MakerBot estimate that between 35,000 to 40,000 desktop 3D printers were sold in 2012. This number is estimated to double in 2013, as consumers increasingly adopt desktop 3D printers for a broad range of applications.

“The last couple of years have been incredibly inspiring and exciting for us,” said MakerBot’s CEO Pettis. “We have an aggressive model for growth, and partnering with Stratasys will allow us to supercharge our mission to empower individuals to make things using a MakerBot, and allow us to bring 3D technology to more people. I am excited about the opportunities this combination will bring to our current and future customers.”

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