Forward AM closes US office (and it's just the second day of new year)
The Atomic Layers: S6E2 (00149)
Atomic Layer of the Day:
Oh, what a day... And it's only the second day of the new year! Today, I’ve received so much information that I can honestly say I spent two-thirds of my time just talking with people from around the world about it. As always, most of it, unfortunately, must remain confidential for now, but everything will be revealed in due time.
Not all media outlets writing about 3D printing can say the same...
So, today’s update will be relatively short but very concise. Forward AM has closed its U.S. office. I’d like to say they made an official announcement, but they didn’t. Instead, it was announced on LinkedIn by Mr. Jeremy Vos, who had served as Business Development Manager there since June 2019.
Mr. Vos published a farewell speech to everyone with the following words:
Well, there it is, 5 1/2 years of dedicated work at BASF | Forward AM, packed up in a cardboard box, set for FedEx tomorrow.
This final season has been a whirlwind of experiences at BASF | Forward AM, filled with triumphs, setbacks, and above all, invaluable connections with amazing people from around the globe.
As the chapter closes on BASF | Forward AM's operations in the United States, I reflect on the immense gratitude I hold for the opportunities presented by both BASF and the dynamic 3D Printing Industry.
With the dawn of the New Year, fresh challenges and prospects await. Stay tuned for updates on the horizon. But first, a well-deserved trip to sunny Florida!
Source: LinkedIn
What more can I say? Not much... At most, this: hold on tight because this story is just getting started.
To recap:
July 3, 2024: BASF announced that Forward AM's management, led by Mr. Martin Back, had acquired the company, which has since operated independently.
November 19, 2024: Forward AM appeared at the Formnext trade fair with a large and highly professional booth. I spent quite a bit of time there talking to several fantastic people (a big shoutout to them!).
November 21, 2024: During the still-ongoing fair, Forward AM filed for insolvency in court.
Afterward, I returned to Poland and started receiving a series of very disturbing news from various people on different topics... but always in the context of Forward AM. Today’s announcement by Mr. Jeremy Vos fits into the larger picture.
That’s all for now. I know this might sound like a shitty update—like I’m telling you something, but not really saying much—but when you eventually learn the full context of the situation, you’ll understand.
Atomic Layer from the Past:
01-02-2018: Local Motors received 1 billion dollar support for Olli 3D printed buses.
News & Gossip:
If what I learned today turns out to be true (and it will be officially confirmed sometime in February), a certain well-known legacy company is fucked. Seriously, it’s going to be a massive surprise.
Colibrium Additive is set to lay off between 40–48% of its employees, according to reports from Germany. More on that tomorrow.
- , a longtime editor and respected AM writer, commented under my LinkedIn post today with this:
“Iberian 3D printer company [name redacted] will be sued and prosecuted for illegally hiring non-EU staff on tourism visas, and for other criminal/fraudulent activities. They will suffer extensive reputational damage.”
We talked at length today, and I know the details. It’s a totally fucked up story. But it’s Phillip’s story to tell, and he should be the one to share it. As for me, I’ll just say this: when it comes to the “Iberian company,” it’s not RatRig, Meltio, or BCN3D. Nor is it HP, which is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain. I’ll leave the rest for you to figure out...