3D Systems has agreed a deal to acquire Swedish SLS 3D printing firm WematterThis summer, the takeover should be complete.
The partnership was announced in the last year. 3D Systems had become the exclusive distributor of Gravity Selective Laser sintering technology worldwide.
Wematter’s Gravity SLS was introduced in 2019 and is marketed as a convenient solution for office use. Wematter regularly updates its 3D-printing system and has expanded its portfolio with the Gravity Essential+ Enterprise models. Through 3D Systems’ acquisition of the company, the two companies expect to make the Gravity SLS systems available to a broader range of customers.
The Wematter Gravity was designed to make additive manufacturing accessible in smaller environments with a small footprint of 0.7 m x 0.7 m x 1.5 m. It is said to require 3X less space, though has a build volume of 300mm x 300mm x 300mm, and can complete an entire job in 24 hours or less. The Gravity has been CE-certified to be used in offices, research labs, hospitals and other places for the production of parts for many applications, including automotive, consumer products, medical devices, and equipment. It also only requires a standard power source and an ethernet connection which enables plug-and-play installation and can be operational in less than an hour from delivery. The simple interface guides the user in the setup and printing process.
Gravity includes a portfolio of 20 materials and is supported by a powder handling system which is designed to maintain a closed loop, ensuring there is no loose powder. The system also allows for the recycling of powders that are not used, allowing manufacturers to make the most out of the material. Users can also start and monitor print jobs remotely, helping to increase productivity and lower the demand for resources, thanks to its cloud connection. This cloud-based system also facilitates proactive maintenance and preventative measures to maximize uptime.
“We continue to invest in our solution portfolio through strategic acquisitions that add unique technologies to enable rapid adoption of additive manufacturing in production environments,” commented Dr. Jeffrey Graves, President and CEO, 3D Systems. “Wematter has designed an SLS solution that is unmatched in the industry that allows the technology to be used in environments where it would previously have been deemed impossible. Since the announcement last fall that 3D Systems would become the exclusive global distributor of Wematter’s products, it became increasingly apparent to us how beneficial it would be to have this team and technology as part of our company.
“Through the acquisition of Wematter, we’ll benefit from their team’s unique engineering approach and expertise as part of our R&D organisation, and our customers will benefit from the capabilities of this user-friendly, elegant platform at a more affordable price point. I believe this will enable a new category of manufacturers to take advantage of the benefits of additive manufacturing to transform their businesses and accelerate innovation.”
Robert Kniola, President, Wematter added: “We’re looking forward to becoming part of 3D Systems and benefitting from the company’s reputation as a leader in innovation, and being able to expand the availability of our Gravity SLS solution to customers worldwide through their global sales network. Our SLS solution accelerates product development and volume production in-house with the click of a mouse. We are excited about the opportunities to bring SLS technology to a new class of customers for 3D Systems, and the potential it will unlock to improve efficiency in the delivery of high-quality end-use parts.”
3D Systems is expecting this transaction to be completed in July 2023. The company will discuss this investment in growth during its next earnings call scheduled for Tuesday, 9 May 2023 at 8:30 am Eastern Time. For more information, please visit the company’s website.
3D Systems is exhibiting at RAPID + TCT Booth #4212 is open in Chicago every day.