03-21-2019: Mcor Technologies ceased operations
It marked the end of full-color 3D printing technology using paper
On March 21, 2019, Mcor Technologies, an Irish company specializing in 3D printing with paper, officially closed its doors. David Van Dessel from Deloitte was appointed as the receiver and manager of the company's assets under a deed of appointment based on a promissory note. This event marked the company's formal entry into bankruptcy, the culmination of a series of financial and operational issues that had plagued it for years.
Deloitte announced plans to sell Mcor's intellectual property, physical assets (including 3D printers), and customer base, noting that the company had failed to secure additional funding for growth and expansion. Despite its innovative technology, Mcor was unable to achieve market stability.
Mcor's downfall was not sudden — it was preceded by months of difficulties. In August 2018, Dr. Conor MacCormack, the company's co-founder, stepped down as CEO, signaling severe internal issues. Earlier, in 2017, Mcor stirred controversy by significantly increasing the price of its ARKe printers — from the initially promised €6,000 to €8,995 during the pre-order phase and finally to €17,995, affecting even customers who had already placed orders.
Ultimately, the company's lack of market success and the depletion of funds from earlier investment rounds led to its bankruptcy.
In October 2019, the company’s assets and intellectual property were acquired by CleanGreen3D Limited, which announced plans to resume production of the ArkePro printers and further develop the technology. Despite ambitious plans, these efforts also failed.
Mcor Technologies was founded in 2005 in Dunleer, Ireland, by brothers Dr. Conor MacCormack and Fintan MacCormack. They developed a 3D printing technology based on a modified Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM) method. Mcor's technology, known as Selective Deposition Lamination (SDL), was a unique approach to 3D printing. It used standard office paper — A4 sheets in the Irys and Matrix models or paper rolls in the ARKe — as a building material, making it one of the most literal interpretations of "3D printing."
The process involved applying color ink to each sheet of paper at a resolution of up to 5760 x 1440 x 508 DPI with a palette of over a million colors. Sheets were selectively glued (only in model areas) and then cut into shape with a precise tungsten-tipped blade. Once all layers were stacked, the entire structure was pressed to create a solid, wood-like form. The excess paper was manually removed — a critical but also the most challenging part of the process.
Source: www.centrumdruku3d.pl
‘2013 in AM’ - brand new history book! GET IT NOW!
