2013 in AM - the second part of the 3D printing industry history series is available!

The Atomic Layers: S8E21 (00227)

Mar 21, 2025

Atomic Layer of the Day:

Although with a slight delay, but I finally managed to officially publish the second part of my historical series today! "2013 in AM" is a wonderful e-book featuring nearly 90 events from the history of the 3D printing industry that took place 12 years ago!

The year 2013 was a time of massive growth for the industry, particularly in the consumer sector. On one hand, it was marked by the market launches of many iconic 3D printers, such as the MakerBot Replicator 2X, Ultimaker 2, and Objet30 OrthoDesk. On the other, it saw the early days of several well-known brands like 3Doodler, XYZPrinting, and Zortrax. That year also witnessed some spectacular acquisitions — Stratasys acquired MakerBot (a truly major event of that time), and 3D Systems took over French company 3D Phenix, officially entering the metal 3D printing segment.

There was no shortage of controversies either — 2013 was the year when the infamous Pirate3D and Peachy Printer campaigns began, and the market also saw the debut of botObjects.

For me personally, 2013 was a particularly significant year because it marked my debut in the world of 3D printing! At the very beginning of January — over 12 years ago — I founded Centrum Druku 3D. On one hand, it became the most influential AM medium in the history of the Polish industry, and on the other, it forever changed the course of my professional career.

A few things set this new book apart from the previous, debut edition:

2013 in AM is longer — it has 82 pages, while 2012 in AM had 60 (including 6 pages of ads).
The new book is available not only in PDF format but also in EPUB, MOBI, and AZW3 formats, which can be read on e-readers like Kindle. Trust me, this completely changes the reading experience of this publication!
Unfortunately, the new book is paid. I couldn't secure advertisers — there were a few interested companies, but the negotiations dragged on for so long that I risked missing the March deadline. One of the goals of this series is to release new editions monthly. However, I believe I set a very reasonable price of €2.99 net (plus less than €1 in handling fees and VAT via Gumroad). But I'll let you be the judge of that…

You can purchase the book here.

And I kindly encourage you to check it out 🥹

Because when you dive into the history of the past decade or so, you’ll easily understand many of the reasons behind the current state of the market.

When I look at what’s happening, very little surprises me. Many things keep repeating themselves. Many situations still carry the same red flags—and I just know how to spot them.

I understand that many people running 3D printing businesses today feel that what they’re doing is unique and groundbreaking. But the truth is, it’s all been done before. What’s new is often just a fresh take on old ideas. Bambu Lab is simply the next MakerBot, Zortrax, Ultimaker, or Prusa.

Yeah, every stage of the AM industry’s growth has had its own "Bambu Lab."

Atomic Layer from the Past:

03-21-2019: Mcor Technologies ceased operations.

Join AM World Map and fill your country or region with Additive Manufacturing!

News & Gossip:

According to Gil Lavi of 3D Alliances, UnionTech has sold over 20,000 printers globally. Its service division, Unionfab, operates 800+ machines, producing 2 million parts annually for 80,000+ customers across 174 countries. The company also leads in material innovation and software development, maintaining a 60% share in China’s industrial 3D printing market.
The Bambu Lab H2D launch is just around the corner—meanwhile, here’s the leaked official spec sheet!
Some time ago, I reported on a patent dispute between 3D Systems and Intrepid Automation, in which the latter sued the former for violating their patents. The case is quite complex and multifaceted because 3D Systems had previously accused the founder of Intrepid (a former 3D Systems employee) of roughly the same. So far, the court has ruled that some of 3D Systems' allegations do not meet the legal requirements for identifying trade secrets, significantly weakening their position in the case. More on this tomorrow.