Markforged

Markforged is a manufacturer of 3D printing systems based in Watertown, Massachusetts. It produced the first marketed printers capable of printing carbon fiber and pure copper.

Markforged
Private
IndustryManufacturing
Genre3D Printing
Founded2013[1]
FounderGreg Mark[2]
Headquarters
Watertown, Massachusetts[3]
,
United States
Key people
Greg Mark (CEO)[3]
Products3D Printing Systems
Websitewww.markforged.com

History

The company debuted as a start-up at "SolidWorks World 2014" in San Francisco with a working prototype of the "Mark One" printer, capable of printing in continuous carbon fiber (the first to do so), fiberglass, nylon and polylactic acid (PLA).[2] Production machines can also print kevlar.[4] In 2020, the company became the first to market a 3D-printer system capable of printing copper, a version of the company's "Metal X" system; the methodology had been in development for some time and involves the use of plastic-encapsulated copper pellets as the raw material.[3] This has been referred to as ADAM (Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacaturing) technology.[4]

In March 2018, Markforged was sued by a rival 3D-printer manufacturer, Desktop Metal, which claimed intellectual property theft and patent infringement in regard to methods patented by Desktop Metal involving "adding layers of an easily removed material to a printed metal product".[5] A finding in favor of Markforged was rendered in the patent infringement case in July 2018.[6]

January 2019 saw the publication of a new UL Standard, 2904, "ANSI/CAN/UL Standard Method for Testing and Assessing Particle and Chemical Emissions from 3D Printers".[7] Markforged noted in October 2019 that it was pursuing certification against this new standard, claiming that they "use a plastic compound that generates lower emissions than many competing machines."[8]

Business

By 2016, Markforged had secured investments from Porsche and Microsoft amounting to US$57 million.[5] By 2017, venture capital firms Matrix Partners, Trinity Ventures and Northbridge Venture Partners had contributed funding as well.[1] By the first quarter of 2019, the company had reached funding of US$136.8 million since its founding, with Siemens having joined existing investors.[9]

The business model of Markforged is based on the sale of industrial 3D printers to replace traditional metal manufacturing methods, with the prediction that companies will find parallel printing across many machines continuously to be attractive.[1] The company's closest competitor is Desktop Metal.[9]

References
  1. Bray, Hiawatha (October 23, 2017). "New generation of 3-D printers can make objects of steel". Boston Globe. 292 (115). pp. B8, B10. Retrieved March 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. This is the second part of the article, from page B10; here is the segment on page B8: "Thinking Outside the Mold".
  2. Chang, Alexandra (January 27, 2014). "New 3D Printer by MarkForged Can Print With Carbon Fiber". Popular Mechanics. New York, New York: Hearst. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  3. Garsten, Ed (February 13, 2020). "Copper 3D Printing Breakthrough Could Cut Cost Of Electric Vehicle Parts, Boost Power". Forbes. Jersey City, New Jersey: Forbes Media. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  4. Galantucci LM, Guerra MG, Dassisti M, Lavecchia F (2019). "Additive Manufacturing: New Trends in the 4th Industrial Revolution". In Monostori L, Majstorovic VD, Hu SJ, Djurdjanovic D (eds.). Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on the Industry 4.0 Model for Advanced Manufacturing (AMP 2019). Springer. p. 159. ISBN 978-3-030-18180-2 – via Google Books.
  5. Bray, Hiawatha (July 14, 2018). "Makers of 3-D printers in battle". Boston Globe. 294 (14). p. A8. Retrieved March 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Bray, Hiawatha (July 31, 2018). "Watertown Company Wins First Round in 3-D Printing Court Fight". Boston Globe. 294 (31). p. C3. Retrieved March 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Standard 2904, Edition 1". UL Standards Sales Site. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  8. Bray, Hiawatha (October 2, 2019). "Some 3-D printers could emit dangerous gases, microscopic plastic". Boston Globe. pp. B6, B9. Retrieved March 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. This is the second part of the article, from page B9; here is the segment on page B6: "Some 3-D printers could be hazerdous"
  9. Bray, Hiawatha (March 21, 2019). "3-D Printing Firm Scores More Impressive Fund-Raising". Boston Globe. 295 (80). p. B7. Retrieved March 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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