3D Systems has announced the sale of Oqton and 3DXpert platform to the investment firm Hubb Global Holdings. The company now plans to focus exclusively on its proprietary 3D Sprint software. This is a very good move - especially since… I actually kind of suggested it back in early June this year.
To be clear - I’m not claiming that 3D Systems follows the suggestions I make in my articles.
Although I know quite a few people within the company read them. It’s just that, once again, something I wrote has proven accurate.
Over the years, I’ve written numerous articles about 3D Systems, pointing out that this once highly influential company in the additive manufacturing sector has, for some time, been heading nowhere - trying to operate across too many areas of additive manufacturing without truly leading in any of them.
I described this in detail in June, in the first episode of the AM Survivor series:
Among other things, I wrote:
In my opinion, the problem with 3D Systems is that no one really knows where the company is heading, what exactly it does, or what its specialization is.
Sure, 3D Systems specializes in “3D printing.” But specifically - what kind?
Is it a hardware company? YES
Is it a materials company? YES
Is it a software company? YES (especially considering Oqton)
(...)
a company that does everything can’t be excellent at everything. At best, it can be good at everything. And being good is always dangerously close to being average.
(...)
3D Systems plays a significant role only in metal PBF (but mostly in the U.S.), SLA (but only on the industrial side, and it’s losing ground), and SLS (again, primarily in the U.S.).
All of this is because 3D Systems has lost its identity.
Once a market leader in resin-based rapid prototyping machines, today it can produce and deliver everything - which is to say: anything.
It builds machines for prototyping, for serial production, for specialized and certified manufacturing.
As a result, it’s hard to define what its core focus actually is.
And here comes the awkward part - shortly after that article was published, 3D Systems began to streamline its portfolio and phase out projects outside its core business.
Almost as if they took my words to heart 😉
In July, the company shut down Systemic Bio, a biotech subsidiary based on bioprinter manufacturer Alevi, which was developing vascularized tissue bioprinting. 3D Systems explained this as a necessary move to focus on profitability.
Systemic Bio had been developing the h-VIOS platform for high-throughput production of vascular hydrogel models (up to 6,000 units per month) for pharmaceutical testing. Unfortunately, the project was burdened with high operational costs and required further investment - something 3D Systems could no longer afford.
Moreover, after the bioprinting boom of the late 2010s and early 2020s, the technology has since returned to the quiet of laboratories and research centers, no longer sparking the same excitement it once did.
So, overall, 3D Systems did the right thing.
Now, at the end of September, 3D Systems has taken a similar step - but this time in the software domain.
The company decided to focus exclusively on its 3D Sprint software, dedicated to its own polymer 3D printers, and sold its “neutral” platforms - Oqton and 3DXpert, which work with printers from any manufacturer. The buyer is the investment firm Hubb Global Holdings.
3D Systems will now channel its internal software development resources into advancing its flagship 3D Sprint platform. Artificial intelligence and machine learning will be the key drivers of this effort. The company plans to leverage data from the largest installed base of production 3D printers on the market to improve print quality, speed up design, and optimize factory workflows.
To fund and focus on this initiative, 3D Systems is divesting two other software platforms:
Oqton Manufacturing Operating System (MOS): a factory operating system that manages mixed fleets of 3D printers from various manufacturers.
3DXpert: advanced software for preparing and optimizing metal 3D printing.
Crucially, these platforms are printer-agnostic - independent of any specific printer brand. They work with devices from multiple manufacturers, not just 3D Systems. The new owner, Hubb Global, plans to continue developing them as an independent software provider for the entire industry.
Through this move, 3D Systems aims to:
focus on integrated solutions (hardware + materials + software) for its own 3D printers
allow Hubb Global to develop neutral software for the broader industry, helping to standardize processes, particularly in metal additive manufacturing.
3D Systems argues (and I agree) that for the metal 3D printing sector to grow further, an industry-wide standard is necessary. As a manufacturer of metal printers, 3D Systems could have been perceived by competitors as a “threat.”
Selling the neutral software to an independent company should encourage wider adoption by other manufacturers, accelerating the development of the entire metal printing market - ultimately benefiting 3D Systems as well.
At the same time, 3D Systems won’t completely cut ties with these platforms. It will maintain a “strategic relationship” with Hubb Global, meaning it will continue offering 3DXpert as part of its metal printing solutions - but will no longer be responsible for its development.
Oh, and the transaction is expected to close at the end of 2025.
3D Systems has been facing many challenges for quite some time. It struggles with profitability, and its revenues have been declining year after year:
Nevertheless, this move - while not groundbreaking - is another step in the right direction.
Focusing only on selected areas of activity can only be beneficial. Consolidation has been the buzzword of the past two years in the AM industry, but in this case, we’re seeing internal consolidation - unification and focus.
And that’s good.
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3D Systems introduced its newest wax 3D printer, the MJP 300W Plus, targeting the growing 3D printed jewelry market. The printer enhances design freedom and production efficiency for creating intricate wax patterns for metal casting. Key features include three optimized print modes for 30% higher productivity and 20% less material use, along with dissolvable supports that reduce post-processing. Enhanced local data security safeguards designers’ intellectual property, meeting future cybersecurity standards.
READ MORE: www.3dprint.com
#6. WASP launched CUBO HDP - a compact large-scale pellet 3D printer
WASP introduced the CUBO HDP, a new large-format pellet 3D printer. The system features a substantial 1.2m³ build volume while maintaining a compact footprint and low power consumption. A key innovation is its ability to process challenging materials, including shredded plastic waste and microplastics, maximizing material usage and supporting recycling.
READ MORE: www.voxelmatters.com
#5. Presq and Bambu Lab partnered to democratize 3D printed footwear
Presq and Bambu Lab have partnered to advance creator-led manufacturing, starting with an open-source footwear platform called Fig.(0). The collaboration combines Bambu Lab’s high-performance desktop 3D printers with Presq’s design assets and optimized workflows. This initiative provides creators with ready-to-print files, including pre-sliced versions for Bambu Lab systems, making it easier to produce and customize wearable shoes.
READ MORE: www.voxelmatters.com
#4. Snapmaker’s U1 3D printer set Kickstarter record
Snapmaker’s new U1 3D printer has become the most funded 3D printing project in Kickstarter history, raising over $20.1 million from more than 20,000 backers. The campaign’s success is attributed to its aggressive pricing, with a starting “Late Pledge” price of $849, and strong community engagement.
READ MORE: www.3druck.com
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Materialise has merged its two online 3D printing services, i.materialise and Materialise OnSite, into a single platform. The i.materialise platform, launched in 2009 for consumers and designers, will be retired. All customer orders will now be handled through the professional, B2B-focused Materialise OnSite. This consolidation aims to streamline operations and offers users a wider range of materials and faster production options. The move follows a strategic review as the company focuses its commercial services.
READ MORE: www.voxelmatters.com
#2. Bambu Lab opened first flagship retail store in Shenzhen
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READ MORE: www.tctmagazine.com
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Dyndrite has announced a strategic partnership with Ansys to integrate its thermal simulation software into the Dyndrite LPBF Pro platform. This collaboration aims to create a workflow that predicts thermal distortion and residual stress in the Laser Powder Bed Fusion process. By simulating material behavior before printing, the integration seeks to reduce costly trial builds and accelerate the qualification of mission-critical components. The partnership leverages Dyndrite’s Python API to codify and replicate successful printing strategies across different machines and manufacturing sites.
READ MORE: www.3dprintingjournal.com