March was another busy business month for 3D printing, with the industry’s IPO trend continuing apace and some of its biggest firms beginning to report financial recoveries, while those using the technology in the clinical and construction sectors also harnessed rising client interest, to turn R&D projects into commercial ventures.
Read on for March’s headline news from the likes of SLM Solutions, Velo3D, ExOne, Stratasys, Rocket Lab, ICON, CELLINK, CollPlant, 3D Systems, Mighty Buildings, ROKIT Healthcare and more.
Green shoots of recovery?
Although the pandemic continued to force many 3D printing adopters to tighten their spending during March 2021, there were early signs that this was starting to ease. In the 26th annual Wohlers Report, for instance, it was found that the sector had actually grown by 7.5% to nearly $12.8 billion from 2019 to 2020, despite COVID-19’s impact on the equipment sales of more established manufacturers.
This revenue recovery was also reflected in the financials of many leading 3D printing firms, as they began to publish their Q4 2020 results during the month. With annual growth of 11% for FY 2020, ExOne was one such manufacturer, and the company teamed its rosy figures with the announcement that it had achieved a breakthrough with Ford that month, in the creation of lightweight aluminum parts.
“Developing a fast, affordable, and easy way to 3D print aluminum with traditional material properties is a critical step toward light-weighting,” John Hartner, CEO of ExOne explained at the time. “Our world-class engineers and scientists are focused on solving the toughest problems with 3D printing technology, and this achievement is a real win for all of us.”
Having been forced into a strategic refocus by the impact of COVID-19 in Q2 2020, 3D Systems also reached a significant milestone in Q4 2020, by reporting its first revenue rise since 2018. Following its restructuring, the firm sought to drive greater value from its industrial and healthcare arms, and this strategy proved wise, with its income rising 8% in Q1 financial forecasts later in the year.
Likewise, metal 3D printer manufacturer SLM Solutions’s 26% increase in income over the course of FY 2020, provided it with reason for optimism heading into the new financial year. According to the firm’s CEO Sam O’Leary, it not only surpassed its previously-stated annual growth guidance during Q4 2020, but managed to gain significant traction with its newly-launched NXG XII 600 3D printer.
“Despite the difficult COVID-19-related business environment, we made tremendous progress in innovation and…
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