Spanish 3D printer manufacturerBCN3D Technologieshas raised €2.8 million from a combination of new and existing strategic investors. The start-up has now gained more than €5.5 million in investment since it was spun off fromPolytechnic University of Catalonia(UPC) in 2019.
资金回合由现有支持者领导The Spanish National Innovation Agency(CDTI) and supported by new investorsTheMondragon Corporation。西班牙工业企业的企业集团与风险资本主义公司一起加入了Accureafy4,JME Venture capital, andDanobatgroup, which also participated in the fundraising.
BCN3D表示，它将利用投资来推进其IDEX technology。In addition to developing its additive manufacturing process, the company will also leverage the funding to produce new materials and features for its workbench line of 3D printers.
“We are excited to have the support of Mondragon,” said Xavier Martinez Faneca, CEO of BCN3D. “It will allow us to strengthen our innovation plans for the workbench segment. I look forward to being part of this next phase of BCN3D, as we will accelerate the accessibility of 3D printing”.
BCN3D’s IDEX 3D printing technology
Since becoming independent from UPC’sCIM-UPC center, where the company was founded in 2012, BCN3D has focused on developing its IDEX 3D printing method. While some dual extrusion desktop 3D printers have both tool heads within the same carriage, BCN3D’s printers can control both tool heads independently. Available induplication and mirror mode on the firm’s 3D printers, this allows users to work with both tool heads simultaneously, effectively doubling the production capacity.
Building on this technology, the company launched its Sigma range of machines, which have been updated and improved many times over the years. For example, BCN3D launched itsR17 model of 3D printers in 2017, which featured a new fan system enabling better cooling, and an additional line of six different hotends. This was followed by thelaunch of its FFF dual extruder 3D printers: the Sigma and Sigmax R19 in September 2018. The new Sigma was designed to deliver high-resolution multi-material parts, while the Sigmax featured an IDEX architecture that was capable of printing at a much larger volume.
The company later announced a series of partnerships to develop new applications for, and expand the reach of, its technology. Working with the Barcelona-basedIstituto Europeo di Design(IED) for instance, BCN3Dinstalled a number of its 3D printersfor students to use for manufacturing prototypes and functional parts for projects. More recently, the company has collaborated with Istanbul-based 3D printer reseller3Dörtgentoexpand its global reachand seen its systems bringtime and cost savings给它的客户Tecalum Industrial。
Having initially筹集了300万欧元的种子资金to get the business off the ground last year, BCN3D has now gained a further €2.8 million in investment. Using the cash raised, the Spanish-based 3D printer manufacturer will seek to advance its printing process, and create a new range of additive materials.
BCN3D’s continued momentum
到目前为止，BCN3D已将台式机和Workbench系列中的三台基于挤出的3D打印机以及九种细丝选项的投资组合推向市场。BCN3D使用新筹集的资金，通过与许多新合作伙伴合作，寻求加强其新硬件功能和3D打印材料的开发。
与之合作Forward AM, the 3D printing arm of chemical producerBASF, andThe Mitsubishi Chemical Group该公司打算开发新的工业级细丝系列。热塑性塑料的制定旨在确保最高的打印质量，并为多个不同行业的许多技术应用而设计。
Following its investment,Danobatgroup基准制造商的高附加值溶胶utions and automated production systems, will also partner with BCN3D. By combining their knowledge from both industries, the companies will develop potential new features for BCN3D’s 3D printers, in addition to other “future technologies.”
Clave Capital, which manages The Mondragon Corporation’s venture capital fund, recorded its satisfaction at the firm’s first investment in 3D printing technology. “Not only does BCN3D perfectly fit our long-term strategy for the additive manufacturing industry with its vision to make 3D printing accessible, we firmly believe BCN3D can push the limits in the 3D printing industry,” said Alberto Bermejo, Investment Director at Clave Capital.
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Featured image shows a ‘print farm’ of BCN3D’s Sigma 3D printers. Photo via BCN3D.
