New York-based 3D printing bureau Voodoo Manufacturing have raised a further $1.5 million in investment for their 3D printing factory. With a large number of desktop FDM 3D printers the company have created a small localized factory featuring many MakerBot Replicator 2s.
The startup was founded by four former MakerBot employees and now they have now received a seed investment of $1.5 million, this values the company at $10 million. As previously reported on 3D Printing Industry we visited Voodoo Manufacturing’s space in Brooklyn last year in order to meet co-founder Jonathan Schwartz and get a feel for their work.
Voodoo Manufacturing’s mini factory has echoes of the Tend.ai factory which uses a robotic arm to operate desktop FDM machines. Furthermore Tend.ai received $2 million in funding recently in order to develop their manufacturing techniques. While Voodoo Manufacturing currently manually remove completed prints, Tend.ai have given this repetitive task to a robotic arm. Voodoo Manufacturing have instead optimized their software in order to control their 3D printers.
Voodoo Economics?
According to Crunchbase, James Sowers has made the $1.5 million seed investment and this results in the quoted $10 million valuation. The investor has also funded other businesses such as a mobile veterinary company. At first glance it may seem strange that the company is valued at such a substantial sum, as their factory consists of 160 desktop 3D printers. Which are retailing at an average of under$2,000 each. However, the investor will be hoping to tap into the added value through the company’s use and expertise with the technology. Co-founders Jonathan Schwartz, Max Friefeld, Patrick Deem, and Oliver Ortlieb have developed their own unique software that is able to track and control the 3D printing jobs.
Furthermore, their method of producing high-volume prints in rapid time means they can compete with injection molding techniques. Yet with arguably less cost when producing small batches. The cost of preparing a component for injection molding is expensive, and only recouped when production of a sizeable volume takes place.
With 3D printing, Voodoo Manufacturing are able to offer the service with a consistent price for part throughout.
Voodoo Manufacturing have also begun working within the Etsy Manufacturing service which should provide the company with more customers. Recently the Etsy team toured their facilities recently with Jonathan Schwartz explaining how the company operates.
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Featured image shows some Voodoo Manufacturing’s 3D printer arsenal. Photo via Voodoo Manufacturing.
