08-26-2013: Kinpo Group launched XYZPrinting, which soon became the largest manufacturer of desktop 3D printers in the world

After 10 years of operation, the company was shut down, and its selected assets were sold

On August 26, 2013, the Taiwan-based Kinpo Group announced its own brand of 3D printers: XYZprinting. The new 3D printers were set to revolutionize the consumer and educational markets worldwide—which they did!—with a goal of reaching 1 million units sold within three years (though whether they achieved this is unclear).

For a time, XYZprinting had the broadest portfolio of 3D printers on the market, releasing iconic (though not necessarily "high-end") models like the da Vinci Junior, da Vinci PRO, Noble, and the first commercial FFF 3D printer in full color—the da Vinci Full Color. However, by March 2023, the brand was phased out, and select assets were sold (e.g., to Nexa3D).

XYZPrinting was founded by Kinpo Electronics and Cal-Comp Electronics, companies under the Asian electronics giant Kinpo Group, one of the largest manufacturers in Southeast Asia. From day one, it promised revolutions: creating a new generation of desktop 3D printers perfectly suited for home use and offering them at an incredibly low price of $499, which was unheard of at the time. The company also aimed to sell one million units within three years! For comparison, other popular desktop 3D printers like MakerBot or Ultimaker were priced at $2,000-3,000 at that time and sold in quantities of tens of thousands per year.

From 2015 to 2018, the company dominated the home (consumer) and educational 3D printer segments, offering ease of use, compact design, and unique aesthetics. On the other hand, the device's performance was "average," and XYZWare, the company's proprietary software, was clunky compared to competing solutions. Additionally, servicing the 3D printers was a significant challenge.

In 2017, XYZPrinting launched its industrial 3D printing division, creating proprietary SLS machines and gypsum powder 3D printers.

Unfortunately, the C19 pandemic struck, global supply chains collapsed, and Chinese manufacturers, led by Creality3D and Anycubic, along with the Czech company PRUSA Research, began to dominate the low-cost 3D printer market. All these factors combined, leading to a buildup of problems, and ultimately, XYZPrinting’s owners decided to wind down the operation and sell off the more valuable assets.

In March 2023, Nexa3D acquired the SLS 3D printing division. The remaining operational units—Desktop, OEM, and Materials—were dissolved.

Source: www.3ders.org