10-05-2010: 3D Systems acquired Bits From Bytes – a pioneer of RepRap and the first European company producing 3D printers
A year and a half later, 3D Systems created the Cubify brand partly based on Bits From Bytes technology
On October 5, 2010, 3D Systems announced the acquisition of the UK-based Bits From Bytes – the second and, alongside MakerBot, the only manufacturer of hobbyist FFF 3D printers in the world at that time. Today, the name might not mean much to many of you, but according to the 2010 Wohlers Report, Bits From Bytes kits and printers accounted for 17% of all 3D printer sales worldwide, ranking second in total shipments. It’s no wonder that Kerry Stevenson from Fabbaloo called this a “Blockbuster Announcement.”
Bits From Bytes was founded in December 2008 by Ian Adkins and Iain Major in Bristol, UK. The company stemmed directly from the rapidly growing RepRap movement, initiated by another Briton, Dr. Adrian Bowyer from the University of Bath. The company offered two 3D printers – The RapMan Kit, priced from $1,300, and the fully assembled BFB3000, priced from $3,900 and could be equipped with up to 3 print heads. 3D printers were extremely popular, making them one of the most frequently purchased items in the world. Fun fact is, that at the same time, the company had only 13 employees.
In contrast to MakerBot 3D printers, which had plywood-cut designs, Bits From Bytes opted for components cut from Plexiglass and acrylic. While this ensured a high aesthetic for the still very simple, RepRap-based designs, it didn’t provide much rigidity and made the machine quite noisy during operation. Both 3D printers also lacked a heated print bed, which limited them to working with PLA.
With this acquisition, 3D Systems officially entered the FFF technology, instantly competing with Stratasys. It also became the first "legacy" company in the 3D printing industry to enter the hobbyist and desktop 3D printing sector (Stratasys did so three years later by acquiring MakerBot).
In January 2012, at the CES fair in Las Vegas, 3D Systems announced they were entering the direct consumer market with the Cube line of 3D printers. This is how the Cubify brand was born. Initially, two 3D printers were offered – Cube (a copy of the Chinese Up!) and CubeX, which was the successor to the BFB3000.
At the end of 2015, 3D Systems discontinued the Cubify brand, withdrawing from consumer 3D printing. This also marked the final end of Bits From Bytes story.
Source: www.3dsystems.com