A series of dreadful news that is beginning to seriously worry me...
The Atomic Layers: S4E9 (00095)
Atomic Layer of the Day:
Unfortunately, I can’t directly disclose the companies involved at this moment. First, it would expose my sources (former or current employees), and second, the companies could deny it—and without revealing sources, I couldn’t defend my claims. However, the situation doesn’t look good…
A well-known 3D printer manufacturer is reportedly deep in debt and has already let go of almost its entire team. They’ve attempted to sell the company to everyone, but no one was interested. I don’t know if there’s any chance of saving them.
A renowned company producing "machines supporting further stages of 3D printing" faces multi-million EUR/USD debt. Despite decent products and profitable sales, they can’t repay it without new financing. The problem is that their current debt stems from previous financing rounds... It’s a stalemate, and creditors are losing patience.
One of the largest Western industrial machine manufacturers has seen a -50% year-over-year sales drop. Meanwhile, a leading Eastern manufacturer of similar machines can’t sell anything in the West, even with 50% lower prices than competitors.
A highly respected individual in the Polish AM sector, with almost 20 years in the industry, turns out to be a professional scammer. The list of defrauded companies is in the dozens, with debts exceeding 2 million EUR (in Poland alone). Not including companies swindled with non-functional machines.
Another Polish company’s CEO has accrued a debt of 4 million EUR (also unlikely to be repaid) and has just received notice that the Polish authority has withdrawn an EU grant worth 1.6 million EUR. To secure such grants, CEOs often sign personal guarantees… So the man is finished.
And there’s even more… All this has reached me just in the last two weeks. I’m really curious about what we’ll see at Formnext. What will the mood be like? Will this sector even survive?
Atomic Layer from the Past:
11-09-2022: SLM Solutions introduced the NXG XII 600E metal AM system.
Atomic News & Gossips:
Flashforge announced the launch of the AD5X, a 3D printer with a key innovation—a built-in filament changer. The device offers a build volume of 220 x 220 x 220 cm and speeds up to 600 mm/s. Its compact design saves space, though filament spools will remain exposed to open air.
Anycubic has started preorders for its new resin printer, the Photon Mono M7 Max, featuring a build area of 298 x 164 x 300 mm and a 7K LCD screen. The printer is expected to reach speeds of 60 mm/h, a 200% increase over the M3 Max, and includes an auto-refill system and resin temperature control.
Bambu Lab announced the release of TPU filament compatible with the AMS material changer, enabling the printing of flexible parts. The new material will be available on November 12.
Bambu is wreaking the market, they were able to innovate, and are competitive, and are building an ecosystem.
Stratsys is slowly letting itself die, prusa didn’t innovate enough, and creality strategy of copying, start to show it’s limits.
Most professional are already equipped with machines and the personal Pinter market is growing but all profits goes to Bambu.
Formnext will be a bloodbath for most company except Bambu and some resin printer manufacturers.