Ultimaker, the desktop 3D printing company, has announced an agreement with NPM Capital, the private equity firm invest a significant, undisclosed amount to become the majority shareholder of the company.
The investment allows Ultimaker to accelerate product development and invest in additional sales, marketing and R&D resources, helping the company expand on its already strong global market position.
Ultimaker has experienced significant growth since it was founded in 2011. Now with offices in the Netherlands and the USA, the company has built a worldwide distribution network selling its products in more than 100 countries. The company is one of the market leaders in the high-end segment of industry grade desktop 3D printers. Key customers come from a large variety of markets in areas like product design, engineering, research, manufacturing and education. One of the more notable, recent users of Ultimaker's 3D printing technology is Volkswagen Autoeuropa. The automotive player is making huge cost savings by 3D printing customised tooling, jigs and fixtures, and won the TCT Automotive Application Award at the inaugural TCT Awards last month.
Agreeing a deal with NPM Capital, Ultimaker is now readying itself for the next phase of its growth, which the 3D printing company hopes will enable more partnerships like the one with VW.
Ultimaker CEO Jos Burger explains: "I look forward to working with NPM Capital. They have a great and solid reputation as a committed longer term investor. NPM Capital has a flexible investment horizon focused on long term value creation. The company is not driven by the need to make a rapid exit, which enables us to continue our growth at a pace that our markets require. With the additional funding and support from NPM Capital we now have the ability to accelerate innovation and further empower professionals worldwide with the tools and knowledge required for them to stay ahead in a rapidly changing business environment."
For NPM Capital, Ultimaker represents an exciting investment in a very attractive market. Bart Coopmans, managing director of NPM Capital says: "Ultimaker fits in our strategy of investing in technology based growth platforms. We are impressed by Ultimaker's leading market position and clear growth strategy. We believe Ultimaker has a sustainable competitive advantage stemming from its integrated platform of hardware, software, materials and support network. Together with a strong community, an ambitious team of professionals and a highly-committed leadership, Ultimaker is very well positioned for further growth. We really look forward to working closely together with the Ultimaker team on their fascinating journey."
Ultimaker's three founders Martijn Elserman, Erik de Bruijn and Siert Wijnia will remain as shareholders alongside NPM Capital, which is part of a family-owned multinational SHV.