Berlin’s large-format 3D printing specialists BigRep are living up to their name. The 3D printer manufacturer has announced their current funding round is already in the “double digit” millions.
While the precise figure is undisclosed speaking to 3D Printing Industry, BigRep’s CEO explained that the funds will be used, “Mostly for further growth globally and tech development.”
The latest investor in the current B-financing round is the Körber Group, an international technology group with around 11,500 employees worldwide. Michael Horn, a member of Körber AG’s Board of Management said, “In addition to our existing know-how, we want to explore the possibilities of additive manufacturing even more intensively through our joint venture with the IRPD [Foundation of Rapid Product Development] through our participation in BigRep. In addition, we will use these competencies within our business areas for further customer applications development.”
Increasing global footprint and sales
Klöckner & Co was the first investor in the round, the company is one of the largest producer-independent distributors of steel and metal products and one of the leading steel service center companies worldwide. As previously reported Klöckner & Co acquired a ten percent stake in the 3D printing company “for under 10 million Euros” in April 2017. BigRep previously received €7 million in series B funding in 2015.
BigRep’s CEO says working with these German industry giants means his company will be “able to further expand the development and solutions as well as increase our global footprint and sales.” Gurka adds,
“Körber is a very experienced technology company that can support us not only financially, but also in industrial machine building. We are looking forward to working with our new colleagues.”
BigRep was founded in 2014 and the the company now has over 70 employees. The BigRep ONE 3D printer has build volume of 1005mm x 1005mm x 1005mm (xyz), making it one of the largest FDM/FFF 3D printers available. The BigRep STUDIO by comparison has a build volume of 500mm x 1000mm x 500mm, making finding space for the 3D printer less of a challenge.
Update on the Sushi printer
At last year’s formnext event, Gurka announced a partnership with the Netherlands based research organization TNO. Under the agreement TNO is working with BigRep to develop the Print Valley project aka the Sushi printer. Footage of the Print Valley project shows 3D printers capable of rapid manufacturing on a conveyor belt system.
Gurka says, “the Sushi project is going very well- we are on time and will present the first prototype summer 2018. We are looking for Engineers in Eindhoven right now to even speed up the process further.”
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Featured image shows the BigRep ONE. Photo by Michael Petch.
