Thinking about 3D Printing? 4 OEMs You Might Want to Investigate

The Mcor Arke line of 3D printers

In ENX’s November feature article, Beyond Traditional Print, Three Product Lines to Consider, I cautioned that there were few 3D printer OEMs capable of adequately supporting the dealer channel. That group includes market leaders 3D Systems, Stratasys (and its desktop brand MakerBot), and HP. We covered all three of these OEMS in the article, but they are not the only vendors with strong products and good channel support.

The 3D printer OEMS listed below don’t have the market presence of the “big three” we’ve already covered, at least not across all market segments. They all, however, have established, respected brands and understand the importance of a good dealer network even if some have not yet implemented their channel strategies 100 percent.

Markforged: This Cambridge, Massachusetts, company is known for its high-quality, professional grade desktop 3D printers. Its founder is an MIT-bred engineer who wanted to develop a better machine for prototyping and parts production. The Markforged line of printers is designed for a design or industrial environment, and the company has invested in industrial-grade materials such as Kevlar, carbon fiber, and fiberglass–options you rarely see elsewhere. Availability of these materials means that engineers and designers can create prototypes that mimic the qualities of a finished product, or they can produce finished products in small quantities.

Pricing levels are high enough to ensure a good margin, but not so high as to limit its market potential. A fully configured single unit decked out with essential accessories will probably be in the $10,000 to $15,000 range. Margins on consumables will also good as retail prices for materials like carbon fiber are much higher than, say, an ABS plastic. Markforged relies heavily on its channel and is actively recruiting dealers.

Zortrax: Based in Poland, Zortrax has a following in both the professional and hobbyist worlds. Its desktop printers are considered reliable, capable, and affordable. Standalone unit prices range from about $2,000 to $4,200. Its machines and materials are focused primarily on rapid prototyping. Materials are all plastic-based, and Zortrax offers a good selection in terms of material qualities and colors.

At the machine and material price-points, margins will be relatively low. However, having a brand like Zortrax alongside higher-end, more expensive brands gives you flexibility with customers needing multiple units. For example, your bid might become more competitive if you can include one or two low-end units for basic prototyping tasks.

Zortrax does sell direct through its website and through online retailers like Amazon. It has also been building a dealer network in the U.S. for several years.

Mcor Technologies: The Mcor machines are interesting and unique beasts, and they have appeal to certain markets that other 3D printers aren’t as capable of reaching. The paper-based Mcor Arke system is one of only a handful of 3D printers that can produce items in full photorealistic color, and it’s the only one that does it for under $10,000. The color is achieved using a standard inkjet printing head that applies ink on each layer of paper.

Because Mcor relies on a paper-based technology, the material qualities of prototypes will not match that of finished objects made in, say, plastic or metal. That doesn’t matter because the Mcor systems match the physical appearance of an object being copied or designed very well. Its color capabilities open up a wide range of applications such as architectural modeling, display marketing, and full-color modeling.

Mcor systems have appeal to design and marketing professionals who care more about modeling how an object looks than its physical properties. Based in Ireland, the company has been actively recruiting U.S. dealers and has established programs to support them. Retail pricing on the printers is high enough for a good margin, and service departments will more easily wrap their heads around the technology than with some other 3D printing technologies. The units use a proprietary paper roll, so dealers will have recurring revenue for both consumables (ink and adhesive) and media.

Airwolf 3D: Like Markforged, Airwolf 3D has always been focused only on the professional market. Its Axiom line of desktop printers come in a range of sizes, and at the largest scale the company claims the tallest build size in its class. Prices range from about $4,200 to $10,000 for the printer only, and it sells its own branded materials. Airwolf offers a leasing option as well.

The company sells direct and through online retailers, but it has built a good reseller channel. Its website has a reseller portal with resources for dealers, including advice on matching systems and materials to an application and troubleshooting tips for common problems.