Stratasys is to acquire 3D printing start-up Origin Inc. in a transaction valued at up to $100 million, as Stratasys looks to expand its abilities for mass production.
Stratasys expects Origin’s proprietary Programmable PhotoPolymerization (P3) technology to be an important growth engine for the company, adding up to $200 million incremental annual revenue within five years.
Origin’s P3 technology, an advancement on Digital Light Processing (DLP) principles, cures liquid photopolymer resin with light. The company’s first manufacturing-grade 3D printer, Origin One, controls light, heat, and force, among other parameters, via Origin’s closed-loop feedback software.
This technology enables users to build parts with accuracy, consistency, size and detail, while using a wide range of resins.
Origin works with material partners including Henkel, BASF and DSM to develop resins for its system, and this poses one of the more interesting aspects of the acquisition: whether Stratasys will open its doors further to external materials vendors in a step towards greater adoption.
“We partnered and developed materials with Origin before Origin One was launched because we believed in their technology and vision for the future of photopolymers in additive manufacturing,” said François Minec, BASF 3D Printing Solutions MD. “Now, as part of Stratasys, we’re confident that together we can take on the broader manufacturing ecosystem.”
“Our customers are looking for additive manufacturing solutions that enable use of industrial-grade resins for mass production parts with process and quality control,” said Stratasys CEO Yoav Zeif.
“We believe Origin’s software-driven Origin One system is the best in the industry by combining high throughput with incredible accuracy. When combined with Origin’s extensive materials ecosystem and our industry-leading go-to-market capabilities, we believe we will be able to capture a wide range of in-demand production applications on a global scale.
Combined with Stratasys’ expected entry into powder bed fusion technology, the acquisition of Origin expands the brands stable of technologies.
“We founded Origin to create a whole new additive manufacturing platform that enables mass production of end-use parts with incredible accuracy, consistency, and throughput along with a wide range of available materials,” said Origin CEO Christopher Prucha.
“Stratasys is the best company for us to join to achieve our vision, giving us an unparalleled opportunity to significantly expand market reach and enable us to bring our P3 technology to a larger audience.”
This news follows on from news last month of Stratasys and Keyshot partnering to make colour 3D printing the reality it has always promised. We looked at the technology here, and whether it will finally solve the age-old problems
