Stratasys has announced it is re-entering the metal 3D printing segment with an investment in Tritone Technologies.
The additive manufacturing pioneer, which has positioned itself as a leader in polymer 3D printing technologies in recent years, says the minority ownership stake and business collaboration in Tritone’s ceramic and metal MoldJet printing aligns with its strategy to address the trend toward serial additive manufacturing at scale.
In a press release, Stratasys CEO Yoav Zeif said the move had been made to support customers across government, defense, and aerospace, who “frequently ask us to complement our polymer offering with a reliable, industrial-grade metal solution.”
Zeif said, “After a long search, we found Tritone to offer a unique combination of part quality, cost-efficiency, with a sustainable business model built around consumables and services. This agreement significantly expands our total addressable market.”
The investment round was also supported by Discount Capital and Fortissimo Capital, and is said to provide Stratasys with the option to increase its equity stake and potential future ownership. In addition, a phased commercial agreement has been put in place with a focus on collaboration and supporting Tritone’s reseller network.
“This exciting investment and partnership are a strong validation of our team’s vision and tireless efforts,” said Tritone CEO Ben Zur. “Our strategy to deliver innovative solutions to manufacturers is clearly gaining traction. By joining forces with Stratasys, the leading player in additive manufacturing, we’re extending the reach of our offerings and giving customers the confidence to adopt AM technology for producing precise parts in metals and ceramics that meet the high standards of industrial production.”
Tritone launched introduced its MoldJet technology in 2017. It is a powder-free AM process geared towards high throughput of metal and ceramic parts, and is thought to complement Stratasys polymer jetting experience.
It’s not the first time Stratasys has dabbled in the metals arena. In 2018, the company announced the development of its own metal 3D printing process known as “Layered Powder Metallurgy” (LPM). It was intended to make production of metal parts quicker, easier and more cost-effective for short run applications using standard powder metallurgy alloys. In 2023, it also made a move to acquire Desktop Metal in a $1.8 billion deal, which placed particular interest in its binder jet capabilities. Speaking with TCT at the time, Zeif shared that Stratasys’s metal 3D printing technology had not been mature or differentiated enough to come to market when he set out its initial polymer focused strategy three years prior. However, Zeif said “metal was in my mind from the get-go, because we mapped the different segments in terms of profit pool and growth, and metal is there.”