After the launch of MakerBot Europe, the consumer 3D printer manufacturer has begun its march across Europe. The company has partnered with European Autodesk distributor and Tech Data Europe brand Datech, to bring MakerBot 3D printing and scanning products to countries throughout the continent, including: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Spain. The partnership will also see the creation of a network of nine strategically placed service centers that will be formed this year to address customer needs and provide adequate support.
Through the deal, Datech will exclusively distribute the complete MakerBot portfolio in the countries listed above. Among these products are the MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printer, the Replicator Mini, the Z18, the Replicator 2X Experimental, the Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner, and the brand’s PLA and ABS filaments.
Alexander Hafner, General Manager of MakerBot Europe, said of the partnership, “We believe that the sales distribution agreement between MakerBot Europe and Datech is the right step at the right time for both sides and will help MakerBot expand its market-leading position in professional desktop 3D printing across Europe. Tech Data is already a distribution partner with MakerBot in the U.S. and partnering with them is designed to help us expand our activities and footprint also in the growing 3D printing market in Europe. Datech, with its many years of experience in the Autodesk design software market, is an ideal partner for this project, especially with its deep knowledge of the market and its close connection to a network of more than 3,000 resellers and customers in engineering, architecture and design. Datech and its resellers will be able to broaden their product range with market-leading 3D printing products that are very closely connected to Datech’s existing Autodesk business. We see the two markets sharing a large common ground for the Datech resellers, as they already have all the competencies needed to create designs and files that can be realized with MakerBot Replicator 3D Printers.”
Mike Appel, Vice President of Datech Europe at Tech Data, added, “Our resellers have been looking for a complete solution and new opportunities with the fast-growing 3D printing market. We are happy to provide them the possibility to use their experience in selling 3D design solutions with Autodesk software to now enable their end-user customers to step into the world of 3D printing and Real-Time Prototyping.”
Resellers can access MakerBot Europe’s Reseller Zone to get familiar with the products and better inform their customers. Potential resellers can apply to be an authorized vendor at the Reseller Zone, as well.
