Materialise Acquires Option to Buy Link3D

Materialise has acquired an option to buy Link3D Inc., an additive workflow and manufacturing execution systems (MES) company. Materialise and Link3D each offer MES solutions that help companies streamline additive manufacturing (AM) workflows as they scale up their AM capability into volume production.

This acquisition enables Materialise to accelerate its roadmap to offer cloud-based access to its integrated software platform. It is also expected to broaden Materialise’s industrial customer base across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, and offer Link3D customers a seamless connection to Materialise’s Magics 3D print suite.

“By joining forces with Link3D, we expect to be even better positioned to provide our customers with a solution to plan, manage and optimize their AM operations,” says Fried Vancraen, Materialise CEO.

Link3D offers additive MES workflow software to help companies scale their digital manufacturing operations across complex supply chains and IT environments. The company says its MES and workflow solutions help bolster overall adoption of AM for series production in major manufacturing industries, including aerospace, automotive, consumer, medical and energy.

Materialise has outlined an ambitious roadmap to evolve its entire software suite to an SaaS model. The company recently announced several cloud-based software solutions, including Magics Storefont, a full e-commerce and CRM solution in one platform; and the Process Tuner, an intuitive online platform that helps speed up the process tuning that is required for mass manufacturing of 3D printed parts.

Link3D provides a suite of mission-critical applications. These customers are expected to benefit from seamless access to Materialise’s Magics 3D print suite for AM part preparation, automation and production optimization, but also broad 3D printer connectivity and automated workflows.

Link3D will continue to be managed by its existing management team. Materialise expects to exercise the option before the end of the year.