Materialise Acquires Identify3D Software Encryption Company

Materialise has acquired Identify3D, a company that develops software to encrypt, distribute and trace the flow of digital parts across complex supply chains. The acquisition of Identify3D makes Materialise’s CO-AM platform the most secure platform for distributed manufacturing, the company says.

Data security and integrity can be essential for companies that want to retain control over their design and production data, as they transition from a centralized production model to multiple digital production sites that are closer to their customers.

The Identify3D product suite encrypts, distributes and traces the flow of digital parts, preventing counterfeits and ensuring that maliciously or inadvertently modified, substandard or uncertified parts cannot enter the physical supply chain. It is said the software also enables designers and manufacturing engineers to couple designs with specific production criteria, such as a designated user, type of machine or material to control the production process and meet the original manufacturing specifications.

The Materialise CO-AM software platform gives manufacturers cloud-based access to a full range of software tools that enable them to plan, manage and optimize every step of the 3D printing process. The acquisition of Identify3D enables Materialise to add an additional security layer to CO-AM, making it one of the most robust and secure software platforms for manufacturers that are looking to scale up their 3D printing operations as part of a digital and distributed production environment.

“We believe that the factory of the future will not be a single, central location,” says Fried Vancraen, CEO of Materialise. “Instead, future manufacturing, enabled by smart technologies like 3D printing, will take place at multiple digital production sites, distributed around the world, closer to customers.  But this will only be possible when companies are sure that their design and production data remains secure. This acquisition allows manufacturers to secure the flow of digital parts and maintain a competitive advantage.” 

The traditional, centralized production model has proven vulnerable to systemic shocks, including global supply chain issues, geopolitical tensions and growing sustainability concerns, the company says. Smart, digital technologies such as 3D printing enable a shift toward multiple, smaller scale manufacturing sites closer to customers.

For companies that want to protect their unique designs, sharing design files and digital assets among industrial companies and suppliers requires data security. At the same time, manufacturers that plan to scale up the production of a 3D printed part into the thousands or millions want to ensure that all their components have the same quality, irrespective of where they are produced. As a result, data integrity is also essential for companies that embrace digital manufacturing.