04-13-2021: Materialise announced its intention to acquire Link3D
The deal was finalized in November 2021
On April 13, 2021, Materialise announced the acquisition of a purchase option for Link3D Inc., a U.S.-based company specializing in workflow management and MES for additive manufacturing technologies. The purchase option was exercised in November 2021, when Materialise officially acquired Link3D for $33.5 million.
The decision to acquire the company was driven by the synergy between the two businesses. Materialise, known for its Magics software and wide range of 3D printing services, aimed to expand its capabilities in managing production processes within complex supply chains. Link3D offered MES software that enabled companies to optimize and scale additive operations in industries such as aerospace, automotive, healthcare, and energy.
The acquisition was intended to accelerate Materialise’s platform strategy, particularly in offering integrated software in a cloud-based model. This move responded to the growing demand for digitalized manufacturing processes—a trend further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Link3D, founded in 2017, specialized in providing SaaS solutions for managing 3D printing workflows. Its flagship product was an additive MES and workflow system that integrated with existing supply chains and IT environments, allowing companies to gain better control over production, improve efficiency.
The Link3D software offered features such as real-time production data analytics, process automation, resource tracking, and workflow optimization, making it particularly valuable for companies implementing 3D printing at an industrial scale.
Following the acquisition in November 2021, Link3D was integrated into the Materialise ecosystem while retaining its brand and management team. Today, Link3D’s solutions are part of the Materialise software portfolio, supporting customers in managing and optimizing their 3D printing operations. Link3D clients gained access to the Magics 3D Print Suite, enabling smoother model preparation, process automation, and production optimization.
Source: www.materialise.com
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