3D Fila Print is gone

Once the #1 UK filament provider is now out of business

The rough times in the 3D printing industry continue... 3D Fila Print—one of the most prominent filament suppliers in the UK—has unexpectedly announced its closure. As recently as July, the company was actively selling products, but in the past few days, customers have been greeted with the above message.

3D Fila Print was founded in early 2013 in Essex, UK. From the beginning, the company specialized in offering a wide range of filaments and 3D printing materials at competitive prices. In its online store, 3D Fila Print offered dozens of brands and types of filaments and resins. It was also a reseller of Flashforge 3D printers.

Among the unofficial reasons for the closure are the "usual suspects": rising import costs, challenges related to Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and intense competition from larger international suppliers. Another issue is the manufacturers who sell directly to consumers, which impacts local suppliers.

Another problem, still rarely discussed, for European and American manufacturers and suppliers is the growing pressure from China. Filaments from Chinese producers are offered at prices extremely low by European economic standards. There are cases where a spool of popular PLA or ABS is offered at a price that European filament manufacturers consider to be their breakeven point.

While they can theoretically still compete with Asian suppliers, for distributors and resellers, there is increasingly little room for profit margins. And that ultimately causes situations like this... Unexpected business closure.

Source: www.3dfilaprint.com