3D Hubs
Robert Schouwenburg, MD of 3D Hubs USA.
Robert Schouwenburg, MD of 3D Hubs USA.
3D Hubs has appointed former Shapeways COO and CTO Robert Schouwenburg as its Managing Director for the USA.
The Dutch service manufacturer has expanded its presence into the States by opening an office in Chicago’s mHUB innovation centre after an $18m funding round earlier this year. It works with more than 15,000 American companies across a range of sectors already, and wanting to better the service it offers existing customers and attract new business, has decided to set up base in the country.
To head its American operations, the company has recruited Schouwenburg, who helped to found Shapeways and Karma Wifi, and brings with him more than 20 years’ experience working with technology start-ups. His first priority will be to enhance the company’s CNC machining services, while the company continues to evolve its distributed manufacturing model. The company boasts a range of manufacturing technologies, both subtractive and additive, which have so far been harnessed to produce around 2 million custom parts.
As the company sets up shop in Chicago, it is hoping to accelerate that number, automating its instant quoting, design validation, and smart order routing processes, and expanding its manufacturing technology portfolio. With these developments ongoing, and Schouwenburg now in place to head operations in the US, 3D Hubs is targeting sustained growth.
“I’m thrilled to have Robert leading our US business,” commented Bram de Zwart, CEO and co-founder of 3D Hubs. “He’s built an incredible track record in the manufacturing and hardware space and, with his extensive background in scaling companies, I’m confident that we will continue to grow 150% annually. We’re on track to become the largest on-demand manufacturing solution in America.
“We are committed to investing and growing in the United States and there is nobody better equipped than Robert to lead our success here. His talents paired with our platform create the kind of winning combination that gets us even more excited about the future.”
“We’re at the start of industry 4.0, an era when automation and data exchange will accelerate manufacturing technologies,” added Schouwenburg. “3D Hubs is uniquely positioned to become a leader in this upcoming industrial revolution.”
