A'dam 3D printer market place a success

The Amsterdam company specializing in 3D printing, 3D Hubs, announced on Wednesday that the company has collected $4.5 million (€3.7 million) from investors one year after its establishment. The company is also expanding its activities abroad. In addition to the office in the Dutch capital, 3D Hubs has also opened a location in New York. 3D Hubs, founded by Bram de Zwart and Brian Garret, connects owner of 3D printers with people from their neighborhood who want to print out objects, but do not have access to the expensive devices. According to De Zwart, 3D printers will make the production of goods cheaper and more sustainable in the future. With 3D printers things no longer need to be transported from China, bat can be manufactured locally. Many an object such as jewelry, chairs, clothing and even food can be made with this technology. Since its founding 3D Hubs has processed more than thirty thousand prints with 7,100 printers in some 140 countries. The investment of $4.5 million by the British Balderton Capital, the Dutch investors DOEN and Vacation Auction Founder Maarten Beemsterboer, will help expand the number of users on their digital marketplace. 3D Hubs also wants to make the software of the print network more accessible to third parties. The company is working with FairPhone so that purchased phone covers need not be sent by post, but can just be printed near the consumer.