Shapeways

Shapeways, Inc. is a global, 3D printing marketplace and service, private company. Users design and upload 3D printable files, and Shapeways prints the objects for them or others. 3D printing resources are available for university students, faculty, and educators with an .EDU email

Users can have objects printed in over 55 materials and finishes, these include: plastics, precious metals, brass and bronze.

As of 2021, Shapeways has printed and sold more than 20 million objects.

On July 2, 2024, Shapeways ceased fulfilling orders and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The company’s executives all resigned and its assets were put up for liquidation the same day.

On July 29, 2024, Manuevo BV, located in Eindhoven, acquired the assets of the bankrupt Shapeways BV. The company was founded by two original founders of Shapeways, along with the former management team, with the aim of revitalising the Dutch branch of Shapeways.

On November 27th 2024, WVS International Inc, the parent entity of Manuevo bought the intellectual property including the trademarks of Shapeways.

On December 3rd 2024, WVS International Inc announced that it bought the US trademark and other IP assets and that Shapeways had come home to its Eindhoven and founding team and its fully back up and running again.

On December 18th 2024, Shapeways has acquired the Thangs business from Physna Inc. In order to give the former Shapeways marketplace customers a new home.

History

Early history

Shapeways began as a spin-off of Royal Philips Electronics, the Netherlands in 2007. It was founded by Peter Weijmarshausen, Robert Schouwenburg and Marleen Vogelaar and the idea came forth at the Philips design department. The idea of developing a business around 3D printing within Philips was conceived in 2005 by Dolf Wittkämper within the `Philips Lifestyle Incubator` program which offers support for start-up companies with innovative ideas. Consequently the founders of Shapeways developed the business plan and service that Shapeways came to be.

In 2008 a service was launched that allowed customers to design their own 3-dimensional products through rapid prototyping by sending a CAD-file to the Shapeways website to 3D print. Designers can also sell their own designs to be 3D printed on demand for customers, Shapeways handles the financial transaction, manufacture, distribution and customer service; profits go to the designer.

Originally the ''rapid prototyping'' could only print using simple materials. Later nylon was added as a possibility. In 2009 it was made public that they succeeded in also manufacturing stainless steel. As of 2012 the scale and possible materials have been further expanded to include sterling silver, acrylic, full color 3D printing and food safe ceramics.

On October 19, 2012 Shapeways opened a new '3-D printing factory' in Queens, New York that could house 50 industrial printers and produce millions of consumer-designed products a year.
October 19, 2012, Dave Mosher, ''Popsci'', retrieved at October 19, 2012

The option now exist for consumers to adapt designs without prior knowledge of 3D design programming. There are models which can be adapted ''real-time'' by uploading new text or pictures: so-called 'Creators'. There is also the possibility of participating in Co-Creator platforms in which consumers and designers work together to achieve optimal results. In July 2014, Shapeways announced a partnership program with Hasbro, Inc. to produce 3D printed models of characters from '' My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' based on designs created by the adult fan artists from the show and approved by Hasbro. The approach has been seen as a way to lead into other licensed media productions from Hasbro and other Hollywood companies.

On February 21, 2018, Shapeways named Gregory Kress as CEO, replacing Tom Finn.

Recent history

In 2018, Shapeways announced an agreement with Stratasys to provide entrepreneurs better access to 3D full-color printing using a variety of materials. Since 2019, Shapeways has been able to produce PA-11, a material used in various industries such as aerospace, medical, automotive and more. In 2019, Shapeways celebrated its 10 millionth printed part. It produces up to 6,000 products daily and delivers to more than 130 countries.
In September 2019 Shapeways signed a partnership agreement with ZVerse, CADaaS platform, aiming to solve the problem of digital content creation. CADaaS platform enables to optimize 3D files that don't meet required standards and even create new 3D models directly within the Shapeways website. In 2020, Forward AM, BASF’s brand for high-performance materials and services for 3D printing, partnered with Shapeways to offer customers the ability to order 3D-printed items online made with Forward AM material. In 2021, Shapeways announced having 3D printed over 20 million parts for more than 1 million customers in 160 countries.

On April 28, 2021, Shapeways and Galileo Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: GLEO), a special-purpose acquisition company, entered into a definitive merger agreement for a merger transaction in which Shapeways will be acquired by Galileo. Upon closing of the transaction, the combined company will be named Shapeways Holdings, Inc. and is expected to remain listed on the NYSE under the new ticker symbol, SHPW. The combined company was led by Greg Kress, Shapeways’ Chief Executive Officer. The company was de-listed from the NYSE in July 2024 following its bankruptcy.

After the bankruptcy the Netherlands management team of Shapeways in collaboration with two of the original co-founders opened a new business named Manuevo to secure continuing service to the Shapeways clients and retain the Dutch jobs. The Netherlands daughter company of Shapeways was a profitable entity, mostly unscathed by the troubles of the American company. The new company officially opened its doors on August 1, 2024 when it acquired the Dutch assets from the local Dutch trustee. Manuevo operates internationally.

In December 2024, the owners of Manuevo announced the purchase of the Shapeways brand and all other IP from the US trustee handling the bankruptcy case of Shapeways Inc. Manuevo will going forward operate as Shapeways signaling the return of the brand.
In the same month, the new Shapeways announced the acquisition of Thangs from Physna Inc. With the acquisition of Thangs Shapeways intends to create a new home for the former Shapeways shopowners who were left without a marketplace in July. This signals that the new Shapeways takes the creator economy that once was its bread and butter seriously

See also

References

External links

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*{{Official, https://www.thangs.com

3D publishing
Companies based in New York City
Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange
Companies that filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2024
3D printing websites
Dutch companies established in 2007
Dutch companies disestablished in 2024
Special-purpose acquisition companies