When BASF divested its Forward AM additive manufacturing materials business in the summer of 2024, the original plan was for Sculpteo to go with it.
Forward AM's management was carving out the materials business and, with BASF keen to focus on core business areas, the best place for a 3D printing service bureau was sure to be with Forward AM.
But that element of the deal was never completed. And by the end of 2024, Forward AM was filing for insolvency, was later acquired by Stratasys, and Sculpteo would continue operating as a BASF business via the BASF New Business GmbH subsidiary.
While all that was going on, Sculpteo CEO Alexandre d'Orsetti encountered 3D Prod President Quentin Kiener, struck up a friendship, and when BASF was ready again to consider the sale of Sculpteo, a deal was done. Ahead of the announcement of the merger this week, they spoke to TCT to help explain why the two companies are coming together, what we can expect from the combined entity, and what their long-term vision is.
