After earlier reporting that Felixrobotix, Dutch manufacturer of the Felix 3.0 3D printer, had opened up a retail branch in Silicon Valley, another line of Dutch machines is continuing to explore the US. USCutter, reseller of sign-making equipment and supplies, has begun to sell Leapfrog 3D printers with a major distribution agreement with the company.
The decision to sell Leapfrog machines sprang from USCutter’s own use of 3D printing, with the company’s CEO, Karl Bowman, saying, “We’ve been using 3D printing to print spare parts and solve problems. It started with the simple need to provide customers with new parts to keep their older equipment running – parts the original manufacturers no longer provide – and 3D printing them made the most financial sense.”
USCutter has said that they chose Leapfrog after testing a number of other machines, both low-cost and expensive. Bowman continues, “We tested dozens of 3D printing brands and settled on the Leapfrog line because it’s the best combination of price and performance. It’s business ready.”
Leapfrog sees the partnership as mutually beneficial, with USCutter providing a good position in a vertical industry that will adopt 3D printing more readily. Brandon Davis, CEO of Leapfrog America, says, “USCutter’s commitment to customer support and perfect ecommerce fulfillment model make them one of our newest and most valued partners.”
USCutter will be establishing its own showroom for exhibiting 3D printing technology and classroom training facility to teach others how to use the machines. The company is also a platinum sponsor of the upcoming 3D Printer World Expo in Seattle.
Just as MakerBot has sought to expand into Europe, we’re starting to see European manufacturers make their way into the United States. I used to believe that small 3D printer manufacturers would be able to survive servicing their local population, but, as larger companies open up shop in cities globally, I’m not so sure. Instead, we may just experience the classic pattern of big international brands vie for consumer attention all over the world, while the mom ‘n’ pop 3D printer shops slowly fade away.
