MakerBot and Ultimaker Agree to Merge to Accelerate Global Adoption of Additive Manufacturing

Rhea-AI Summary

MakerBot and Ultimaker announced a business combination aimed at enhancing the desktop 3D printing ecosystem. The merger is backed by NPM Capital and Stratasys (Nasdaq: SSYS), with an investment of $62.4 million to drive innovation and market expansion. Co-CEOs Nadav Goshen and Jürgen von Hollen will lead the new entity, headquartered in The Netherlands and New York. The transaction is expected to close in Q2 or Q3 2022, pending regulatory approvals. This merger is significant as it aims to increase the adoption of additive manufacturing in mainstream business.

Positive

• Merger expected to accelerate 3D printing innovation and market adoption.
• Investment of $62.4 million to support development and expansion.
• Combined leadership of experienced CEOs enhances governance and strategic direction.

Negative

• The merger is subject to regulatory approvals, which may delay the process.
• Potential integration challenges following the merger.

The new entity has secured additional funding of $62.4M to fuel global 3D printing innovation

BROOKLYN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MakerBot and Ultimaker, two leaders in desktop 3D printing, today announced that they have come to a business combination agreement that will accelerate the adoption of additive manufacturing by providing a comprehensive desktop 3D printing ecosystem of hardware, software, and materials.

MakerBot and Ultimaker have agreed to merge and secure funding to accelerate 3D printing innovation and drive global adoption, marking an important milestone for both companies. (Photo: Business Wire)

The new entity will be backed by existing investors, NPM Capital and Stratasys (Nasdaq: SSYS), and will benefit from a planned cash investment of $62.4 million to fuel innovation and expansion into new markets. The new company will be led by Nadav Goshen, current MakerBot CEO, and Jürgen von Hollen, current Ultimaker CEO, who will act as Co-CEOs, with Nadav managing operations and R&D and Jürgen managing the commercial functions.

“This merger marks an important milestone for Ultimaker and MakerBot,” says Jürgen von Hollen, CEO of Ultimaker. “Innovation and growth are both critical to bringing desktop 3D printing from a specialty technology into mainstream business adoption. The new company will leverage and expand its combined global footprint with sales and operations in the Americas, EMEA and APAC.”

“Technological innovation is paramount in growing the availability of easy-to-use professional 3D printing solutions,” says Nadav Goshen, CEO of MakerBot. “By combining our teams and leveraging the additional funding, we can accelerate the development of advanced solutions to provide our customers with a broad portfolio of hardware and software solutions to serve a wide spectrum of customers and applications.

The new entity aims to offer easy-to-use and accessible desktop 3D printing solutions for any application while inspiring the industry to a future state of responsible and sustainable manufacturing.

The new company will maintain headquarters in both The Netherlands and New York, USA.

The transaction is subject to consultation of appropriate employee representative bodies and regulatory approvals, with closing currently expected over the course of the second or third quarters of 2022.

About MakerBot
MakerBot is a global leader in the desktop 3D printing industry. MakerBot empowers the engineers of today and tomorrow with its powerful additive manufacturing ecosystem. The company strives to redefine the standards for 3D printing for safety and emissions, reliability, accessibility, precision, and ease-of-use. Through this dedication, MakerBot has a large install base, manages Thingiverse—the largest 3D printing community in the world—and has members on the UL 2904 standards committee to ensure it is on the cutting edge of emissions regulations.

About Ultimaker
Established in 2011, Ultimaker is on a mission to accelerate the world’s transformation to flexible, empowering and sustainable solutions. 380 employees deliver a platform that enables customers to take full advantage of the unique Ultimaker Ecosystem that offers the largest diversity of 3D printing products and services in the industry. Ultimaker provides a seamless integration of hardware, software and materials that simply works.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220512005308/en/

Press Contacts

Bennie Sham

MakerBot

Bennie.sham@makerbot.com

Jeanine Graat

Ultimaker

j.graat@ultimaker.com

Source: MakerBot

FAQ

What is the purpose of the MakerBot and Ultimaker merger?

The merger aims to enhance the desktop 3D printing ecosystem, increasing innovation and market adoption.

How much funding has been secured for the new company resulting from the merger?

The new entity has secured $62.4 million in funding.

Who will lead the new company after the MakerBot and Ultimaker merger?

Nadav Goshen and Jürgen von Hollen will serve as Co-CEOs.

When is the merger between MakerBot and Ultimaker expected to close?

The merger is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2022.

What markets does the new entity plan to expand into after the merger?

The new company aims to expand into the Americas, EMEA, and APAC markets.