Aleph Objects, the manufacturer of LulzBot open-source 3D printers, has announced that all of its assets have been acquired by Fargo Additive Manufacturing Equipment 3D (FAME 3D). Based in North Dakota, FAME 3D is a limited-liability corporation set up by a venture capitalist to buy the assets of Aleph Objects. In a statement released on Friday the 8th of November Grant Flaharty, CEO of Aleph Objects, and now acting CEO of FAME 3D, said:
“LulzBot is one of the core leaders in the Desktop 3D Printing Industry. It’s an organization filled with intelligent, innovative people and solutions that are changing the opportunities for Manufacturing and Medical Markets. We couldn’t stand by and watch that type of innovation to go unrealized.”
Lulzbot bought by FAME 3D
Last month, rumors of LulzBot’s closure were circulated after 91 of its 113 employees had been laid off. Hereafter, an email attributed to Aleph Objects stated that the Colorado-headquartered company “decided to close down the business as of Wednesday, October 9th, 2019.”
Following this, the Colorado-based publication, Loveland Reporter-Herald reported that former employee, Zachary Hergenreder, had filed a class-action lawsuit against the company due to its failure to notify its workers in advance of their termination.
Rumored to be seeking a buyer to support continuation of its business now, Aleph Objects, states that FAME 3D will be “continuing the open-source legacy for its customer products.”
“Now with solid financial backing,” the statement continues, “[Aleph Objects] can continue with cutting edge innovation, high-quality long-lasting printers, and product advancements aimed at providing industry-leading solutions.”
Fargo Additive Manufacturing Equipment
As part of its agreement with Aleph Objects, LulzBot will be placing a renewed effort on customer support and responsiveness to customer feedback in order to improve its current and future product offerings.
Regarding this acquisition, Jeff Moe, who founded Aleph Objects in January 2011, told the Loveland Reporter-Herald, “I’m helping with the transition through the end of the year. I’m glad that we found a very good buyer. It’s in capable hands.” Moe is now planning to focus more on his computer-security startup, Fork Sand Inc., which was co-founded two years ago.
3D Printing Industry will update the developments from LulzBot and Aleph Objects as they appear. Subscribe to the free 3D Printing Industry newsletter, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Featured image shows a close-up of the Lulzbot TAZ Workhouse 3D printer. Photo via Aleph Objects.
