This week Formlabs announced the acquisition of Canada-based 3D printing design marketplace, Pinshape.
The news comes shortly after an announcement from Pinshape last month that revealed the online community was to close. However, in its first acquisition ever, the desktop stereolithography machine manufacturer has stepped in to expand its range of sophisticated 3D solutions with Pinshape’s community and content and provide a place for Formlabs' users to share and discuss their 3D designs.
“We’re proud to welcome Pinshape to Formlabs,” said Max Lobovsky, co-founder and CEO of Formlabs. “Pinshape is a company that shares the same passion and drive as Formlabs in making sophisticated 3D printing technology widely accessible. Pinshape is one of the fastest growing 3D design marketplaces, and Formlabs wants to make sure Pinshape stays that way. Formlabs is building the biggest desktop 3D printing company in the world, and we want to grow the collaboration part of the ecosystem to the same level.”
Pinshape 3D printing design marketplace.
Founded by Lucas Matheson, Nick Schwinghamer and Andre Yanesin 2013, Pinshape is a 500 Startups-backed company that enables designers and brands to share, market, and sell 3D designs. The company will continue to operate as a standalone business within Formlabs however over time some operations will transition to Formlabs' Boston HQ. Pinshape says there won’t be any significant changes to the platform in the near future and it will continue to provide education content, contests and forum access for its users.
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“Pinshape has grown to be one of the largest and most respected 3D design marketplaces online, and we owe this success to our community of talented designers and makers,” Lucas Matheson, co-founder and CEO of Pinshape, explained. “We’re thrilled that Pinshape is joining Formlabs and excited for our community. The Formlabs team is amazing; they’re building some of the best-in-class technologies in 3D printing and continue to break new ground in the industry.”
Dávid Lakatos, head of product at Formlabs, added: “3D printing is greater than just Formlabs. By connecting Pinshape’s thriving community and rich hub of 3D content to Formlabs’ tools of innovations and resources, we help fantastic designs find form. As 3D printing demand continues unabated among professionals and prosumers, we’re excited about joining forces with Pinshape to extend our reach in the market and ecosystem.”
