11-18-2019: BASF acquired French 3D printing service provider Sculpteo
Now Sculpteo is part of Forward AM
On November 18, 2019, BASF, a global leader in the chemical industry, announced the acquisition of Sculpteo, a French provider of online 3D printing services with offices in Paris and San Francisco. Through this acquisition, BASF, via its subsidiary BASF New Business GmbH, aimed to strengthen its position in the additive manufacturing sector by offering customers access to new materials and technologies. Sculpteo, known for its innovative online platform for prototype and series component production, brought BASF a wide customer base, allowing the company to introduce its new products effectively.
The acquisition was pivotal for both parties. BASF gained a distribution channel for its advanced 3D printing materials, while Sculpteo's customers benefited from access to BASF's broad portfolio of industrial-grade materials developed under the Forward AM brand.
Sculpteo was founded in France in 2009 by Clément Moreau and Eric Carreel, with the mission to democratize additive manufacturing for individuals and businesses (both left in 2022 and 2019 respectively). The company provided a wide range of services, including custom 3D printing, post-processing, and technological consultancy, positioning itself as a direct competitor to the Dutch company Shapeways.
In 2015, Sculpteo expanded to the U.S. by opening a second office in San Francisco, which facilitated its entry into the American market. By 2018, it served over 100,000 clients worldwide and specialized in technologies like SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) and SLA (Stereolithography). Customers could also use its online platform for model editing and optimization.
However, in 2023, Sculpteo decided to shut down its marketplace for independent designers to focus exclusively on professional industrial services. This shift aimed to optimize resource use and operational efficiency but disappointed designers who relied on the marketplace.
On July 3, 2024, BASF announced the divestment of Forward AM, including Sculpteo, from its core structure, effectively ending BASF's involvement in the 3D printing sector. Sculpteo became part of an independent organization.
Source: www.sculpteo.com