Formlabs is to bolster its SLS 3D Printing technology line-up with the acquisition of Micronics, a Wisconsin, USA-based start-up that announced its first desktop SLS 3D printer, Micron, on Kickstarter in June 2024.
A compact, desktop form factor capable of producing detailed and durable parts, the Micron design featured a fully enclosed powder handling system to allow instant material switches – letting users ‘focus on creating, not cleaning’. Founded by two students, Henry Chan and Luke Boppart, the Kickstarter run saw 431 backers pledge £1,055,899. Following the close of the acquisition, Micronics Kickstarter backers will be refunded and receive a credit for Formlabs products for use now or in the future.
According to Formlabs, its own Fuse 1 Series printers account for more than half of the world-wide powder bed fusion printers sold, but with the slow growth of the 3D printing sector in recent years, the sector needs to build sustainable growth – and this acquisition makes sense for all involved.
“What makes us so excited about Henry and Luke is that they embody the very people we make our products for,” explained Formlabs CPO David Lakatos on Medium. “They live in the ‘flow of making’ (Henry literally has a CNC machine in his dorm room) and the only limitation to what they are able to make is the limitations of the tools that they are using.
“It’s a huge inspiration for me to see what they have built under two years (and a healthy kick in the pants to remember that we can’t slow down). It makes me happy to see that 12-years in we are still singularly, maniacally invested in making better products (in stark contrast with the dysfunctional part of our industry).”
The acquisition follows Formlabs’ acquisition of Spectra in 2019, which further built out the company’s materials capabilities and added a ISO 13485 certified facility.
The official line on Micronics is that its team will now complement Formlabs’ SLS team to bring ‘new tools and solutions that enable product designers and innovators to unleash creativity’.
“We are thrilled to join forces with Formlabs, a company we have long admired,” said Chan. “After the outpouring of excitement around our Kickstarter, we’re confident that this move will enable us to bring the best SLS 3D printing experience to users around the world by leveraging the incredible talent and experience at Formlabs. We are excited about this next phase in our mission to make digital fabrication even more accessible, and can’t wait to get started.”
