Trying to conquer the West, Chinese companies will destroy themselves

The Atomic Layers: S7E18 (00196)

Atomic Layer of the Day:

Yesterday in NEWS & GOSSIP, I mentioned the availability of the new 3D printer from Chinese company Elegoo—the Centauri Carbon 3D. This 3D printer—which is just another Bambu Lab clone, is offered at a discounted price of €329.99 (down from €412.99), while the cheaper Centauri version (without Carbon in name) costs €239.99 (down from €299.99).

For comparison, the Bambu Lab P1P (the cheapest model) costs €499.00, while the flagship X1C is priced at €1,187.63.

And I have three thoughts on this:

1. The Elegoo Centauri (without Carbon) is €10 cheaper than our sponsor package in The 3D Printing World Guide [SIGH!]

2. Bambu Lab is probably feeling right now what Josef Průša felt three years ago.

3. This just doesn’t seem profitable for anyone… A Bambu Lab clone for €240-330?

And speaking of that last point, I wonder where the absolute bottom limit for Chinese companies lowering prices is? Because there has to be one—right?

There are many opinions about China, particularly that production costs are low due to poor working conditions. But let’s not exaggerate—it’s not a country of slavery. Plus, the cost of manufacturing parts and assembling them can’t be infinitely cheap—there is a limit below which it just isn’t possible to go.

Unless Elegoo has done what Western companies have—moved production somewhere even cheaper? I don’t know—maybe Vietnam, Bangladesh, or Cambodia? Otherwise, this really doesn’t make sense.

What we’re witnessing now is a price war. I wonder if anyone will fall in it, and if so, when?

By the way, have you ever heard of a Chinese 3D printing company going bankrupt?

Right now, I could name close to 20 Western companies that have, but I can’t think of a single one from China. Maybe Anet3D, whose official website looks abandoned? But the rest—even the rather forgotten Monoprice or Tronxy—are still active.

It’s all very intriguing and suspicious. Completely disconnected from Western economic fundamentals. It makes you start thinking of conspiracy theories (Government-funded 3D printer production? But for what purpose—for Chinese companies to fight each other on price?).

This race to the bottom has to end at some point.

But didn’t we say the same thing in 2019 when the Ender 3 was selling for €200?

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Atomic Layer from the Past:

02-18-2023: Wilson produced the first airless 3D-printed basketball.

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GET FREE HISTORY BOOK: ‘2012 in AM’

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News & Gossip:

1. Would you like to know the name of the European manufacturer who loudly bragged on LinkedIn about participating in The 3D Printing World Guide but still hasn’t paid the €50 participation fee? And when we asked them to do so (several times), they basically told us to fuck off and requested to have their profile removed (two weeks after publication). Well, if this post gets 30 likes, I’ll tell you. NOTE: I won’t share this information privately. It’s either 30 likes, or I’m taking this secret to the grave.

2. In other news… German AIM3D has introduced a new line of pellet extruders, expanding possibilities for large-format printing, robotics, and specialized applications. These extruders support metals, ceramics, and high-performance polymers, with build rates up to 150 cm³/hour and future targets of 300 – 600 cm³/hour.

3. Prusa Research has teased a new multicolor printing system for its CORE One 3D printer, featuring a compact, user-friendly design with five spools and integrated filament buffering.