Additive-manufacturing (AM) technology maker Stratasys has acquired “a collection of assets” from Nexa3D, according to announcements on both companies’ LinkedIn pages and on Nexa3D’s website.
“We have the largest and most robust offering of AM polymer solutions in the industry, and this agreement will help accelerate the development of advanced solutions that address customer production needs on the manufacturing floor,” Stratasys stated on LinkedIn.
The announcement continued, “Moving forward, Nexa3D customers and partners can expect best-effort support from iSquared AG, a wholly owned subsidiary, for the use of their machines, parts and materials, as well as a path to adoption of Stratasys’ advanced additive manufacturing solutions.”
Nexa3D, which made 3D printing technologies used in prototyping and other applications, announced in December that it was shutting down. It had a portfolio of over 300 patents and its technologies include the Xip desktop printer and Xip Pro for high-volume production.
In its weekly newsletter, Wohlers Associates, a consulting firm specializing in additive manufacturing, offered its analysis of Stratasys’ acquisition of Nexa3D’s assets. It commented that Stratasys offers products in the same technology areas as Nexa3D did, “suggesting that the assets acquired were marginal to its business, but may have acquired the assets as a defensive IP strategy. ... The announcement that Stratasys would henceforth offer some level of support to operators of Nexa3D systems means that the latter is no longer an operating entity in any form. Recent years have brought a slew of new entrants into the market ... a glut that the market seems to be unable to sustain.”
Stratasys announced the acquisition of ForwardAM's materials assets in May. The additive manufacturing space, while it continues to make technological advancements, is still finding its niche and has gone through a series of mergers, near-mergers and legal disputes in recent years.
Lynne Sherwin | Managing Editor
Managing editor Lynne Sherwin handles day-to-day operations and coordinates production of Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing’s print magazine, website and social media presence, as well as Plastics Recycling and The Journal of Blow Molding. She also writes features, including the annual machinery buying survey. She has more than 30 years of experience in daily and magazine journalism.
