08-25-2014: Sintratec made its debut by introducing its first low-cost desktop SLS 3D printer

It was the most affordable 3D printer of its kind on the market and the first to be offered as a DIY kit

On August 25, 2014, the Swiss startup Sintratec unveiled itself to the world, presenting its debut SLS 3D printer and announcing a crowdfunding campaign (to be held on Indiegogo) to support its development. This came less than two weeks after the Italian company Norge Systems introduced its own low-budget 3D printers (the Ice1 and Ice9).

However, unlike the Italians, who priced theirs at a still considerable $13,000, the Swiss from Sintratec offered their 3D printer for just €3,999 (about $5,277). To achieve this, the startup made the surprising decision to offer their SLS 3D printer in the form of a DIY assembly kit.

Sintratec was founded by three electrical engineers from Switzerland: Dominik Solenicki, Christian Von Burg, and Joscha Zeltner. The team planned to launch a crowdfunding campaign in October of the same year to raise enough money to ship at least 60 kit printers. They succeeded, albeit with a slight delay.

The campaign kicked off in late November 2014 on Indiegogo with a goal of raising $175,000. It ended in great success, reaching $213,337 (121% of the goal), with 71 backers. This was especially significant considering that Norge Systems' campaign ended in complete failure on Kickstarter—out of a $320,000 goal, the company raised only $457.

For Sintratec, this marked the beginning of a successful international journey. The company released three generations of its 3D printers, becoming part of the "big three" producers of low-budget SLS 3D printers alongside Poland's Sinterit and later the U.S.-based Formlabs. These companies offered the only alternatives to expensive industrial-grade machines from the likes of EOS, 3D Systems, or Prodways, among others.

Unfortunately, in May of this year, after 10 years in operation, Sintratec unexpectedly announced its closure. In an announcement by co-founders Dominik Solenicki and Christian von Burg, they said:

After a decade of innovation and service in the 3D printing industry, we regretfully announce that Sintratec is ceasing operations effective immediately due to recent bankruptcy proceedings. Over the years, we have been privileged to serve a diverse and vibrant community of customers and partners with our advanced 3D printing solutions.

Beyond this statement, no further information was provided regarding the reasons for the company's closure. However, the growing pressure from Formlabs, which reportedly accounts for 50% of all SLS 3D printer shipments worldwide, may have been a contributing factor...

PS: The first video showcasing Sintratec's 3D prints was published on August 22, 2014. The company was first introduced by the American magazine MAKE: on August 25, 2014, followed by 3DPrint.com, 3ders.org, and others.

Source: www.makezine.com