3D printing and the stock market - 3D Printing: The Basics and Beyond - page 71

3D Systems : 3D Systems was founded by Charles Hull in 1986. From the start its main area
was stereolithography and industrial customers who needed to make prototypes. It is still
the biggest 3D printing company in the world together with Stratasys. 3D systems acquired
the French metal printer systems producer Phenix Systems in 2013, in order to establish a
position in metal printing. Metal printing is important in the transition from prototyping to
manufacturing, which holds the greatest potential for 3d printing growth. In recent years
3D Systems own growth has been based on acquisitions. 3D systems has made around 40
acquisitions in recent years. Except for the Phenix acquisition 3D Systems has bought com-
panies like printer producer Z Corp., software company Geomagic, candy printer company
Sugar Labs and 3D printing services company Layerwise.
Stratasys : Founded by Scott S. Crump in 1989. Stratasys launched the Fused Deposition
Modeling (FDM) technology for plastics. The company is together with 3D Systems world
leading in 3D Printing. Stratasys has made fewer acquisitions, but the once they have made
are certainly significant. In 2012 it merged with the Israeli company Objet Geometeries
Ltd. Objet's printers was based on the Polyjet technology, material jetting of photopoly-
mers, their Connex machines were early on multi-color and multi-material enabled. In 2013
Stratasys acquired the FDM, low-cost and consumer-oriented 3D printer producer Maker-
bot, at the time generally considered as the market leader in the segment. In 2011 Stratasys
bought Solidscape a 3D printer producer focused on printers for lost wax casting which are
used mainly in dental and jewelry applications. In 2014 Stratasys acquired American 3D
printing service bureau Solid Concepts. Stratasys still lacks metal 3D printing and rumors
of acquisitions in this area has been going on for some time.
Exone : Exone is an US/German company that offers additive manufacturing services and
3D printers. Exone produces printers that can print in sand, metal and glass. They mainly
focus on industrial applications like sandcores used for molding.