3D printing service supplier Shapeways has acquired a majority stake within the 3D file-sharing platform Thangs, taking the reins from the location’s developer Physna, Inc. This acquisition represents the second part of Shapeways’ administration staff’s technique to revive the corporate after its Chapter 7 chapter submitting in July 2024.
Following Shapeways’ chapter, the agency’s Eindhoven-based staff and two co-founders acquired its defunct property and restarted operations in Europe as Manuevo BV. Earlier this month, it was revealed that Manuevo bought the Shapeways model, web site, and Eindhoven manufacturing facility, tailoring operations to skilled and industrial functions.
Nonetheless, Shapeways’ chapter resulted within the lack of market and consumer knowledge, as trustees couldn’t switch user-owned mental property. The Thangs acquisition seeks to resolve this hole within the agency’s infrastructure, providing a brand new resolution the corporate believes “exceeds Shapeways’ prior capabilities.”
“The staff behind Thangs actually love their creators and group — they usually take excellent care of them: which is precisely in keeping with the unique spirit of Shapeways,” commented Shapeways CEO, Marleen Vogelaar. “Equally importantly their 3D search expertise powered by Physna protects the IP of their creators which is extremely necessary to me and the remainder of the administration staff.”
Shapeways acquires Thangs
By the acquisition, Thangs will probably be renamed Thangs 3D Inc. and develop into a subsidiary of Shapeways. That includes Physna’s IP safety expertise, the brand new mixture will reportedly create “a seamless ecosystem that spans the complete 3D creation worth chain.”
Internet hosting over 24 million 3D printable fashions, Thangs incorporates a vary of membership choices that allow customers to monetize their designs. By leveraging Shapeways’ digital manufacturing engine, designers can now promote bodily merchandise on to clients by means of a brand new print-on-demand strategy. Shapeways claims this may introduce new income streams to the worldwide Thangs group. In keeping with Vogelaar, the corporate is working to create the ‘Print to Shapeways’ button for Thangs, increasing potentialities for these within the 3D design market.
Publish-acquisition, Thangs will function the consumer-facing model for creators and makers, whereas Shapeways continues to prioritize enterprise clients. Shapeways’ digital manufacturing engine will energy each manufacturers.
Paul Powers, CEO and Co-founder of Physna, notes “The synergy between Shapeways and Thangs was clear from the beginning.” He acknowledged that, whereas focusing totally on its B2B and authorities merchandise, Physna stays invested in Thangs and can proceed to help the design group and Shapeways. “I consider the robust synergies between the 2 will drive development and create worth for each communities,” Powers added.
Dan Pham, Head of Neighborhood Relations at Thangs, referred to as the acquisition a “once-in-a-lifetime alternative to empower our group of designers to develop their thriving companies.” He referred to as additive manufacturing area an “extremely thrilling frontier,” with Thangs posed to “present designers with much more instruments to assist them succeed.”
3D printing software program acquisitions
Earlier this month, US-based 3D printer producer 3D Techniques agreed to promote its Geomagic reverse-engineering software program portfolio to Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence Division.
Price $123 million, the deal kinds a part of 3D Techniques’ strategic assessment to prioritize software program it deems central to speed up the adoption of its 3D printing applied sciences. The agency will now focus assets on its 3D Dash, 3DXpert, and the Oqton Industrial Manufacturing Working System, with Oqton mentioned to be central to 3D Techniques’ software program technique. 3D Techniques referred to as Hexagon, a Stockholm-based agency specializing in metrology, simulation, and design, “a perfect strategic proprietor” for Geomagic. It expects Hexagon to construct “a extra full scan-to-CAD workflow” with its new asset.
Elsewhere, industrial manufacturing agency Siemens agreed to accumulate 3D design and simulation software program developer Altair Engineering Inc. for roughly $10 billion. Siemens’ CEO Roland Busch acknowledged that combining Altair’s computational and synthetic intelligence expertise with Siemens’ Xcelerator platform will create the “world’s most full AI-powered design and simulation portfolio.”
In the same transfer, US-based chip design software program supplier Synopsys sealed a $35 billion deal for engineering simulation software program developer Ansys in January 2024. Synopsys hopes this acquisition will develop its buyer base and market place by means of the “silicone-to-system” product units. Ansys’ course of simulation expertise is used all through industrial additive manufacturing to optimize 3D printing designs. Beforehand, 3D printing software program developer Materialise built-in these course of simulation capabilities with its Magics construct preparation instrument.
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Featured picture exhibits a Shapeways signal from inside its New York warehouse. Photograph by way of Gizmodo.
