Gary Anderson was right! At the Inside 3D Printing NYC event, Gary spoke on a panel about investment opportunities in the 3D printing industry, in which he relayed rumors of SLM Solutions going public. Days after Gary’s prophecy, the German 3D metal printer manufacturer has announced plans to float shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
SLM Solutions is a manufacturer of selective laser melting machines, which are used to additively manufacture industrial components by laser fusing metal powders together to form an object. Last year, 57% of the 80-person company was bought out by DPE Deutsche Private Equity, giving SLM a new investment with which to expand. In 2013, SLM earned 21.6 million euros, 2.5 million in adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, etc., and had a net loss of .4 million euros. In preparation for the flotation, the company has hired Credit Suisse and Detsche Bank, alongside BHF, Canaccord Genuity, and Equinet Bank. Now that they’ve issued a statement, it will likely take about four weeks for company to be listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
SLM is not the first 3D metal printer manufacturer to offer public shares. Both ExOne and Arcam manufacture 3D metal printing machines and are publicly listed. 3D Systems has also recently begun shipping its machines acquired via Phenix Systems. This may indicate a maturity in the 3D metal printing sector of the industry, or at least increased interest in the technology surrounding the highly publicized work of GE and the projects being pursued by America Makes. SLM CEO Markus Rechlin explains their reasoning for going public in the company’s “intention to float” statement, “We believe the market for metal-based 3D printing is at an inflection point, with the technology being ready for industrial serial production.”
Gary Anderson will likely give a more in-depth look at the stock’s potential that will be featured on 3DPI, soon.
Source: Reuters
